Preventive Care and Screening: Influenza Immunization

Percentage of patients aged 6 months and older seen for a visit between October 1 and March 31 who received an influenza immunization OR who reported previous receipt of an influenza immunization

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Influenza vaccination is the most effective protection against influenza virus infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019). Influenza may lead to serious complications including hospitalization or death (CDC, 2019). Influenza vaccine is recommended for all persons aged >=6 months who do not have contraindications to vaccination. However, data indicate that less than half of all eligible individuals receive an influenza vaccination (CDC, 2019). This measure promotes annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged >= 6 months.

Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged >= 6 months who do not have contraindications. Optimally, vaccination should occur before onset of influenza activity in the community. Although vaccination by the end of October is recommended, vaccine administered in December or later, even if influenza activity has already begun, is likely to be beneficial in the majority of influenza seasons (CDC/Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP], 2020).

Higher score indicates better quality

Reference Type: CITATION

Reference Text: 'Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, September 5). About Flu. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html'

Reference Type: CITATION

Reference Text: 'Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, September 26). Flu Vaccination Coverage: United States, 2018-19 Influenza Season. Retrieved from 
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-1819estimates.htm'

Reference Type: CITATION

Reference Text: 'Grohskopf, L.A., Alyanak, E., Broder, K. R., Blanton, L. H. , Fry, A. M., Jernigan, D. B, Atmar, R. L. (2020).  Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2020–21 Influenza Season. MMWR Recommendations and Reports; 69(No. RR-8):1–24. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6908a1.'

Previous Receipt - receipt of the current season's influenza immunization from another provider OR from same provider prior to the visit to which the measure is applied (typically, prior vaccination would include influenza vaccine given since August 1st)

The timeframe for the visit during the "Encounter, Performed": "Encounter-Influenza" or "Procedure, Performed": "Peritoneal Dialysis" or "Procedure, Performed": "Hemodialysis" in the Population Criteria-Denominator, refers to the influenza season defined by the measure: October through March (October 1 for the year prior to the start of the reporting period through March 31 during the reporting period). The "Encounter-Influenza" Grouping OID detailed in the data criteria section below is comprised of several individual OIDs of different encounter types. The individual OIDs are included in the value set and should be reviewed to determine that an applicable visit occurred during the timeframe for "Encounter, Performed": "Encounter-Influenza" as specified in the denominator.

To enable reporting of this measure at the close of the reporting period, this measure will only assess the influenza season that ends in March of the reporting period. The subsequent influenza season (ending March of the following year) will be measured and reported in the following year.

Due to the changing stance of the CDC/ACIP recommendations regarding the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) for a particular flu season, this measure will not include the administration of this specific formulation of the flu vaccination. Given the variance of the timeframes for the annual update cycles, program implementation, and publication of revised recommendations from the CDC/ACIP, it has been determined that the coding for this measure will specifically exclude this formulation, so as not to inappropriately include this form of the vaccine for flu seasons when CDC/ACIP explicitly advise against it. However, it is recommended that all eligible professionals or eligible clinicians to review the guidelines for each flu season to determine appropriateness of the LAIV and other formulations of the flu vaccine. Should the LAIV be recommended for administration for a particular flu season, eligible professional or clinician may consider one of the following options: 1) satisfy the numerator by reporting either previous receipt or using the CVX 88 for unspecified formulation, 2) report a denominator exception, either as a patient reason (e.g., for patient preference) or a system reason (e.g., the institution only carries LAIV).

Patient self-report for procedures as well as immunizations should be recorded in 'Procedure, Performed' template or 'Immunization, Administered' template in QRDA-1.

This eCQM is a patient-based measure.

This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.5. Please refer to the eCQI resource center (https://ecqi.healthit.gov/qdm) for more information on the QDM.

TBD

All patients aged 6 months and older seen for a visit during the measurement period

Equals Initial Population and seen for a visit between October 1 and March 31

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Patients who received an influenza immunization OR who reported previous receipt of an influenza immunization

Not Applicable

Documentation of medical reason(s) for not receiving influenza immunization (e.g., patient allergy, other medical reasons).

Documentation of patient reason(s) for not receiving influenza immunization (e.g., patient declined, other patient reasons).

Documentation of system reason(s) for not receiving influenza immunization (e.g., vaccine not available, other system reasons).

For every patient evaluated by this measure also identify payer, race, ethnicity and sex

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