CDC hosted a webinar on the NHSN surveillance definition of up to date COVID-19 vaccination status on October 13, 2022. We would like to provide some important reminders on how to apply these definitions for the purpose of NHSN surveillance.
NHSN’s surveillance definition of up to date COVID-19 vaccination status is based on CDC’s clinical considerations and up to date definition for the first day of the reporting quarter. Please be sure to report up to date vaccination status in NHSN according to the definition for the reporting period associated with the reporting weeks you are submitting data for. Please refer to the definitions of key terms related to COVID-19 vaccination for the purpose of NHSN public health surveillance: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/hps/covidvax/UpToDateGuidance-May2022-508.pdf.
New Up to Date Definition for Quarter 4
Individuals are considered up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines during the NHSN surveillance period of September 26, 2022-December 25, 2022 if they have received an updated (bivalent) booster dose OR if they received their last monovalent booster dose less than 2 months ago, OR if they completed their primary series less than 2 months ago. See table below. Changes for Quarter 4 of 2022 are highlighted in yellow.
Reporting deadline for Quarter 2 of 2022
As a reminder, for facilities participating in a CMS quality reporting program, the reporting deadline for COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel for Quarter 2 2022 (April 1, 2022-June 30, 2022) is on November 15, 2022. Highlighted in yellow below.
Data Tracking Worksheet
We are currently working to update the Data Tracking Worksheet. Stay tuned to CDC NHSN emails and check the CDC NHSN webpage often for updates.
Frequency of Reporting COVID-19 Vaccination Data:
The frequency of reporting COVID-19 vaccination data has not changed. NHSN allows for, and encourages, weekly submission of COVID-19 vaccination data via the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module.
Beginning on October 1, 2021, facility types that are part of the CMS Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Program, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program, or Long-term Acute Care Quality Reporting Program will need to submit COVID-19 vaccination data via the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module for at least one week per month to fulfill CMS reporting requirements. Beginning on January 1, 2022, ambulatory surgery centers are also required to submit COVID-19 vaccination data via the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module for at least one week per month to fulfill CMS reporting requirements.
Facilities can select any week within the month to report data. A week is designated as belonging to the month of the week-end date. For example, reporting data for the week of September 27-October 3 is considered as submitting data for a week in October.
COVID-19 vaccination data should be submitted by the end of the quarter as defined by CMS.
NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Resources:
Please visit the Weekly HCP COVID-19 Vaccination Resource page for additional information: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/hps/weekly-covid-vac/index.html#anchor_93402.
Please pay particular attention to the COVID-19 Vaccination Modules Key Terms: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/hps/covidvax/UpToDateGuidance-May2022-508.pdf.
During the webinar we received some questions about COVID-19 Hospital Data. Please send any questions related to the upcoming transition of COVID-19 hospital data to NHSN@cdc.gov using the subject line “COVID-19 Hospital.” Resources and information can be found on the transition webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/covid19/transition.html.