What you need to know: Two changes are coming to NHSN reporting effective September 30, 2024 (for the September 30, 2024 – October 6, 2024 reporting period.). The changes reflect

• the up to date definition changes for COVID-19 vaccination reporting and
• the use of the new Combined Respiratory Pathogen Reporting Form for Residents.

Up-to-Date Definition Changes for COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting: Effective September 30, 2024, an individual will be considered “up to date” if they have received a single dose of the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine.

• Under the new recommendations, most individuals will not be considered up to date until they receive the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine.
• Facilities should report zero (0) individuals as up to date until this vaccine is administered.
• You can find updates to the surveillance definition for each quarter here: Understanding Key Terms and Up to Date Vaccination (cdc.gov).
• Resources on vaccine uptake, administration, and billing are available on AHCA/NCAL’s #GetVaccinated website.

New Combined Respiratory Pathogen Reporting Form for Residents: Starting September 30, 2024, facilities will need to report respiratory pathogen vaccination, case, and hospitalization data using a newly combined reporting form.

• The existing Pathway Data Reporting form for positive COVID-19, influenza, and RSV cases will be retired and archived.
• COVID-19 vaccination, case, and hospitalization reporting are mandatory, while flu and RSV reporting remain optional.

Upcoming webinars: The CDC has planned webinars to review changes to the Resident Data Collection Form and the definition of “up to date” for weekly COVID-19 vaccination reporting to NHSN.

LTCF Respiratory Pathogens Module: Updates to Resident Data Collection Form and “Up to Date” Definition for Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting for Healthcare Personnel and Residents 

• • October 1, 2024 | 1:00 pm
  • October 9, 2024 (Webinar replay) | 1:00 pm
  • October 16, 2024 (Webinar replay) | 1:00 pm

NHSN Person-Level Vaccination Forms: Quarter 4 2024 Updates for Long-Term Care Facilities

• • October 2, 2024 | 1:00 pm
  • October 16, 2024 (Webinar replay) | 1:00 pm

Submitting questions: Providers should use the new NHSN Service Now portal for any questions.

• The new portal should be used in place of nhsn@cdc.gov, nhsntrain@cdc.gov, and nhsndua@cdc.gov.
• ServiceNow will help the NHSN team respond to your questions more quickly. Users will be authenticated using CDC’s Secure Access Management Services (SAMS), the same way you access NHSN. If you do not have a SAMS login or are unable to access ServiceNow, you can still email the NHSN Help Desk at nhsn@cdc.gov.