More Hospital Workers Getting Flu Vaccine, But Some Lag Behind
New York state hospital workers are less likely to be vaccinated against the flu than their counterparts nation-wide, according to a new CDC report.
Overall, the spread isn't wide — 88 percent of hospital workers here got their flu shots last year, compared to just over 90 percent nationally. But a WNYC analysis of state Health Department data shows that at several local institutions, the coverage is far lower.
In 2014-2015, St. John's Riverside hospitals in Dobbs Ferry and Yonkers had 41 and 45 percent of workers immunized, respectively — two of the lowest rates in the state.
And in Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate's University Hospital and Interfaith Medical Center were also close to the bottom, with 50 and 51 percent.
State-wide, 31 hospitals tied for the top rate of 95 percent, but in the metro area there were only three with more than 1,000 workers meeting that mark: White Plains Hospital Center, Montefiore-New Rochelle Hospital and Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center in the Bronx.
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