Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection
Published on: August 14, 2019
From Seasonal Strategy to Pandemic Shield: The Case for Prioritizing Influenza Vaccination in Long-Term Care
Jane Barratt1, Marco Del Riccio2, Stefania Maggi3
1Dr. Jane Barratt Consulting Inc., Toronto, ON M5A 4L1, Canada.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed both the fragility and importance of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). In this context, seasonal influenza vaccination is more than a routine intervention, it is a measurable indicator of system readiness.
Methods:
We conducted a secondary analysis of the validated 2022 WHO-UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (JRF) on Immunization for all 194 Member States, extracting (i) policy inclusion of older adults and LTCF residents/staff and (ii) availability of numeric coverage data. Findings were interpreted alongside evidence on vaccine effectiveness and delivery in LTCFs as proxies for operational preparedness.
Results:
Of 194 countries, 128 (66%) reported a national influenza-vaccination policy. Among these, 109 (56%) recommended vaccination for older adults, while only 84 (43%) explicitly included LTCF residents (few countries explicitly named staff). Numeric coverage for older adults was reported by 54 countries (median 55%, range 0-103%), with 13 meeting the WHO ≥75% target. No country reported specific coverage for LTCF residents or staff. Evidence from trials and observational studies shows that vaccination reduces hospitalisation and mortality among residents and that higher staff uptake is associated with fewer resident infections and improved continuity of operations. Facilities achieving high joint coverage appear to reflect stronger governance, supply chains, data systems, and infection-prevention capacity, the same elements required for pandemic response.
Conclusion:
Influenza vaccination in LTCFs functions as both a barometer and a mechanism of preparedness. Three practical levers should be recognised as core readiness functions: explicit inclusion of LTCF residents and staff in national policy; routine, public reporting of resident and staff coverage; and timely, resourced on-site delivery before seasonal peaks. Embedding these features would better protect those at highest risk and strengthen overall health-system resilience.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:51Vaccinations
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
01:21Planning Nursing Care I
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...