MMWR News Synopsis for September 29, 2016

Adults Aged 18–64 Years Who Have a Functional Disability — United States, 2011–2014

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

People with disabilities are an important part of the American workforce, yet many are unemployed. The American labor-force can benefit from the talents, skills, and dedication that people with disabilities bring to the workplace. Approximately 1 in 8 (22.6 million) working-age adults have a disability, according to a recently released report, Sociodemographic Characteristics of Adults Aged 18-64 Years, by Number of Functional Disability Types – United States, 2011-2014. Fewer than half of these people with disabilities are in the labor force; that is, either working or looking for work. Among working-age adults who are in the labor force, those with a disability are twice as likely to be unemployed compared with those without disabilities.

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2015–16 Influenza

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Health care personnel (HCP) should be vaccinated for flu every flu season to protect themselves, their patients, and their families from seasonal flu. Comprehensive work-site intervention strategies that include education, promotion, and easy access to vaccination at no cost for multiple days can increase HCP vaccination coverage. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all health-care personnel (HCP) be vaccinated annually against influenza. Vaccination of HCP can reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality among HCP and their patients. Overall, 79.0% of HCP reported receiving an influenza vaccination in the 2015-16 season, similar to the 77.3% coverage among HCP reported in the 2014-15 season. Vaccination coverage continues to be higher among HCP working in hospitals (91.2%) and lower among HCP working in ambulatory (79.8%) and long-term care settings (69.2%); however, long-term care settings were the only setting in which coverage increased in 2015-16 compared with 2014-15 (an increase of 5.3 percentage points). Coverage continues to be highest among physicians (95.6%) and lowest among assistants and aides (64.1%), and highest among HCP who were required by their employer to be vaccinated (96.5%). Among HCP working in settings where vaccination was neither required, promoted, nor offered on site, vaccination coverage continues to be low (44.9%).

Notes from the Field

• Notes from the Field: Measles Outbreak with Unknown Source — Shelby County, Tennessee, April–May 2016
• QuickStats: Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Adults Aged 50–75 Years, by Race/Ethnicity — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2000–2015

###

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES