Immunizations and Long-Term Care Facilities

States with Laws Involving Immunizations
and Long-Term Care Facilities

June 2004

To increase influenza immunization rates and decrease the possibility of serious illness or death among high-risk groups, at least 20 states have laws related to immunizations in long-term care facilities. Other states address the issue in regulations. In an effort to respect civil liberties and still protect the public's health, states differ in the types of requirements. Some require long-term care facilities to immunize residents and staff, while others require facilities to only offer the vaccines and relevant information. The laws also vary on which immunizations are mandated and which people should receive the vaccines.

Maryland, New York and North Carolina are the only states that require long-term care facilities to immunize staff and residents. New York requires all staff and residents to be immunized for both influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia, a common complication of influenza. Maryland and North Carolina require influenza and pneumococcal immunizations for all residents, but staff are required to receive only an influenza vaccine. Illinois offers residents information about the pneumococcal vaccine. Michigan offers residents access to and information about the influenza vaccine. Neither state calls for any staff immunizations. In contrast, Maine requires facilities to recommend and offer influenza immunizations to "all personnel who provide direct care to residents.," but does not require any immunizations for residents.

The following chart shows how different states regulate immunizations in long-term care facilities by law. Other states address the issue through regulation.

REQUIRES ALL RESIDENTS AND STAFF TO HAVE INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES

REQUIRES INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE FOR RESIDENTS

REQUIRES INFLUENZA OR PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE FOR STAFF

REQUIRES FACILITIES TO OFFER ALL RESIDENTS AND STAFF THE INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES

REQUIRES FACILITIES TO OFFER FLU AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES TO RESIDENTS

REQUIRES FACILITIES TO OFFER INFLUENZA VACCINE TO RESIDENTS

REQUIRES FACILITIES TO OFFER INFLUENZA VACCINE TO STAFF

REQUIRES FACILITIES TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE INFLUENZA VACCINE TO STAFF

REQUIRES DOCUMENTATION

ALLOWS MEDICAL, RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL EXEMPTION

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States with Laws Involving Immunizationsand Long-Term Care Facilities

States with Laws Involving Immunizations
and Long-Term Care Facilities