COVID-19 Vaccine Data Reporting to NHSN

For the past several months the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting system has included an optional module for Nursing Facilities to report weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for residents and staff.  The reporting of COVID-19 vaccination data to NSHN by Nursing Facilities is likely to become mandatory in 2021 as a proposed rule is being developed by U.S. Health and Human Services.  Assisted Living facilities may voluntarily report data to NSHN, in all the NHSN LTC modules and not just the COVID-19 vaccine module, though Assisted Living facilities will not be part of the mandate for COVID-19 vaccine reporting.

We encourage all long term care facilities (NF and AL) to begin reporting weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for residents and staff to NSHN for three important reasons:

1. CDC uses this data as part of the Infection Control recommendations and what steps are appropriate to ease restrictions placed on long term care facilities such as testing frequency and PPE recommendations.  CDC also tracks vaccine efficacy in long term care and uses this data as part of that process.
2. The system provides facilities the ability to effectively track their own uptake rates, which is linked to CMS’s revised visitation guidance that IDOH has adopted.
3. For Nursing Facilities, the system is likely to become mandatory and getting ahead of the mandate is prudent.

AHCA has obtained a list of Nursing Facilities that have not reported COVID-19 vaccination data in the four reporting weeks of February 22 to March 21.  Three hundred and sixty-six (366) Nursing Facilities have not reported to NHSN (long-term care facilities are primarily SNF/NF due to other COVID-19 mandatory reporting.  Assisted Living facilities are permitted to report to NHSN but are not mandated. The coming regulation to mandate COVID-19 vaccination data will not include Assisted Living facilities.

To learn more about how to report to the NHSN COVID-19 vaccination module visit the Long-Term Care Facilities section of NHSN titled Surveillance for HCP & Resident COVID-19 Vaccination.  As you continue your efforts to increase vaccination uptake please utilize the resources on the IHCA/INCAL website under the Vaccine Guidance & Resources webpage.  You can find helpful items on the #GetVaccinated campaign, strategies to increase staff uptake, and talking points.