Only 54% of Oregon Healthcare Workers Are Vaccinated Against Influenza, OHA Says

The Oregon Health Authority is concerned that patients could be infected by healthcare workers, following the fifth consecutive respiratory season in which influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers have plummeted since the outbreak of COVID in 2019-20.

Only 54% of the State’s Healthcare Workforce is Vaccinated Against Influenza

Healthcare workers are raising the risk of infecting patients, says OHA, as only 54% of the state’s nearly 150,000 eligible healthcare workers were vaccinated during the 2024-25 ‘flu season, representing a drop of 11% from the previous ‘flu season and a 36% decrease since the COVID outbreak.

Lack of protection can infect patients in hospitals, dialysis centers, inpatient psychiatric facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, and skilled nursing facilities.

OHA officials say it is alarming that only about half of Oregon’s eligible healthcare workers are vaccinated, as they could spread the virus to people most at risk of severe illness or death.

“Boosting vaccination rates among health care workers not only protect patients, but also prevents the spread of the virus among the healthcare workforce, reducing absenteeism, lost productivity, and health care costs,” says Dr. Dat Tran, the Healthcare-Associated Infections Program medical doctor.

The highest influenza vaccination rate of 61% among healthcare workers was reported by ambulatory surgery centers. They were followed by hospitals at 60%, dialysis centers at 50%, and nursing facilities and inpatient psychiatric facilities each at 30%.

18% of the Healthcare Workforce Declined to be Vaccinated

The proportion of eligible healthcare workers who declined influenza vaccination during the 2024-2025 season was 18%, unchanged from last season. Additionally, 28% of healthcare workers reported having an unknown vaccination status, up from 21% the previous year.

The OHA says this could contribute to low vaccination rates and illustrates the need for facilities to improve documentation of vaccination status.

In keeping with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 10-year objective that 90% of the healthcare workforce will be vaccinated against influenza by 2030, public health facilities can promote the campaign by holding mass vaccination fairs, providing vaccines at no cost to employees, starting incentive programs, and documenting all healthcare workers’ vaccination status.

To achieve the 90% vaccination coverage, a total of 53,260 additional Oregon healthcare workers needed to be vaccinated during the 2024-2025 influenza season.

Dr. Tran says it is really important that healthcare workers are vaccinated to prevent a ‘potentially catastrophic outbreak of influenza, which can be deadly for high-risk individuals.’

Visit the Healthcare Worker Influenza VaccinationDashboard, and the OHA’s Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program.