Influenza vaccination coverage in public sector residential aged care healthcare workers in Victoria, Australia.

BACKGROUND

In Victoria, Australia public sector residential aged care services (PSRACS) annual healthcare worker (HCW) influenza vaccination programs are supplied influenza vaccines at no cost by the state government, with performance HCW influenza vaccination targets in place since 2014. We evaluated trends in healthcare worker (HCW) influenza vaccination coverage in Victorian PSRACS from 2018 to 2025.

METHODS

Annual HCW influenza vaccination surveillance data submitted to the state coordinating centre were analysed from 2018 to 2025. All employed staff were classified as vaccinated, medically contraindicated, declined, or unknown. Data were stratified into pre-pandemic (2018-2019), pandemic (2020-2023), and post-pandemic (2024-2025) periods.

RESULTS

Between 165 and 177 PSRACS reported staff vaccination data annually, with increasing staff numbers post-pandemic. Vaccination coverage increased during the pandemic and was sustained above 97% from 2020 onwards, except in 2021. Declination rates decreased and remained ≤0.4% from 2020.

CONCLUSION

HCW influenza vaccination coverage in Victorian PSRACS increased since the COVID-19 pandemic and has exceeded state performance targets, highlighting the effectiveness of no cost vaccination, accessible workplace vaccination programs and supportive policy settings.