US Healthcare Worker Vaccination Rates: Flu Steady, COVID Lags

Influenza vaccination coverage among United States health care personnel (HCP) remained stable during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season, while uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine showed improvement but remained significantly lower than flu vaccine rates, according to a report published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Based on a national survey of 2,650 health care personnel conducted in spring 2025, an estimated 76.3% of HCP reported receiving a flu vaccine. This figure is similar to the 75.4% coverage reported during the 2023–24 season.

Data indicates that influenza vaccine uptake has remained relatively steady since the 2015–16 season, with coverage rates ranging from 78.4% to 80.6% and averaging 79.5% over that period.

COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Trends

The 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccine coverage among health care personnel was 40.2%. While this represents a notable increase from the 31.3% uptake recorded during the 2023–24 season, it remains markedly lower than the rates for influenza vaccination.

Coverage for the COVID-19 vaccine varied by educational background and professional role. The highest coverage was observed among HCP holding professional, doctoral, or master’s degrees at 47.3%. Physicians, assistants, and aides also showed higher coverage at 46.7%.

Disparities by Profession and Setting

Influenza vaccination rates showed significant variance based on the worker’s role and the setting in which they practiced. The highest rates of flu vaccination were found among:

• Pharmacists: 94.6%
• Physicians: 92.6%
• Hospital-based workers: 88.3%

Conversely, lower influenza vaccination rates were reported among assistants and aides, who had a coverage rate of 69.0%. Those working in long-term care settings also reported lower uptake, at 70.5%.

These trends mirror findings from the 2023-24 season, where influenza coverage was similarly lowest among those in home health care settings and long-term care facilities. During that prior season, pharmacists and physicians maintained the highest rates at 93.9% and 93.0%, respectively, while hospital settings saw 89.1% coverage.

Impact of Workplace Policies

The report identified a strong association between employer policies and vaccination uptake. Workplace requirements were particularly influential for influenza vaccination.

Among health care personnel whose employers required the flu vaccine, coverage reached 97.3%. In contrast, coverage was 73.9% for those whose employers recommended the vaccine without requiring it, and only 42.6% among those whose employers neither required nor recommended the vaccination.

Similar patterns were noted in the 2022-23 season, where influenza, COVID-19 primary series, and COVID-19 bivalent vaccination coverage were lowest among those whose employers neither required nor recommended the vaccines.

Public Health Guidance

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all health care personnel receive an annual influenza vaccination. This guidance is intended to reduce influenza-related mortality and morbidity for both the health care workers and their patients.

ACIP recommends that all individuals aged six months and older, including health care personnel, be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines and remain up to date with their vaccination status.