Infection Prevention News 2026Apr02

COVID “Up to Date” Definition Will Not Change

LeadingAge has learned from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) that the definition of “up to date” for COVID vaccination will remain the same for Quarter 2 reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), which begins on Monday, March 30. The current definition, which expires on March 29, states that individuals aged 65 years and older are “up to date” with two doses of the 2025/2026 vaccine (or at least one dose in the past six months) and individuals under the age of 65 are “up to date” with one dose of the 2025/2026 vaccine. CDC intends to update the “key terms” document by early April. Recall that although respiratory illness season generally ends on March 31, nursing home providers are required to continue weekly reporting of respiratory illness data and monthly reporting of COVID vaccination status of healthcare personnel through NHSN.

Flu Vaccination Status Reporting Due May 15

With the general end of respiratory illness season approaching on March 31, nursing home providers are reminded of requirements to report flu vaccination status of healthcare personnel. Nursing homes must submit one report through the Healthcare Personnel Safety Component of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) by May 15 that reports the flu vaccination status of all healthcare personnel working in the nursing home at least one day during respiratory illness season (October 1 – March 31). This requirement is part of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and nursing homes that fail to submit data will see impact on the Annual Payment Update (APU).