Franklin County hospital staff flu vaccination rates are the lowest in Central Pa.

Jack Panyard
Chambersburg Public Opinion

Two Franklin County hospitals have much lower staff member flu vaccination rates than any of those around them — with one at 33 percent below the state average.

According to the U.S. government's Medicare website, WellSpan Waynesboro and Chambersburg hospitals staff flu vaccinations are both far below the state and national average.

"WellSpan Health encourages all of our team members to get vaccinated for influenza each year, and across our system offers the flu vaccine for free to our team members through a variety of convenient means," WellSpan spokesman Ryan Coyle wrote in a statement. "Team members in Chambersburg and Waynesboro who do not get the flu vaccine agree to wear a mask for the flu season to offer that layer of protection."

While legislation is pending that could empower employers to mandate COVID vaccinations, other basic vaccinations such as the flu are still optional. 

As the country is in the midst of respiratory flu season, some of the symptoms of the common flu are similar to COVID. 

The data below collected from hospitals has last been updated on Oct. 27, 2021. 

Local hospital flu vaccination rates: 

National average: 86%

Pennsylvania average: 92%

WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital - 501 E. Main St., Waynesboro

59% vaccinated of 1,186 staff members.

Chambersburg Hospital - 112 N. Seventh St., Chambersburg

70% vaccinated of 2,915 staff members.

Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center - 500 University Drive, Hershey.

84% vaccinated of 1,1596 staff members.

Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center - 503 N. 21st St., Camp Hill

87% vaccinated of 1,596 staff members.

Reading Hospital - 420 S. Fifth Ave., West Reading

92% vaccinated of 8,941 staff members.

Penn State Health St. Joseph - 2500 Bernville Road, Reading

92% vaccinated of 2,626 staff members.

UPMC Lititz - 1500 Highlands Drive, Lititz

96% vaccinated of 1,297 staff members.

Lancaster General Hospital - 555 N.Duke St., Lancaster

97% vaccinated of 1,0867 staff members.

UPMC Carlisle - 361 Alexander Spring Road, Carlisle

97% vaccinated of 839 staff members.

UPMC Pinnacle - 409 S. Second St., Harrisburg.

98% vaccinated of 9,241 staff members.

Hanover Hospital's parent company and Harrisburg-based PinnacleHealth System are pursuing a partnership.

UPMC Hanover - 300 Highland Ave., Hanover

98% vaccinated of 1,162 staff members.

WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital - 169 Martin Ave., Ephrata

98% vaccinated of 983 staff members.

Gettysburg Hospital - 147 Gettys St., Gettysburg

98% vaccinated of 709 staff members.

York Hospital, part of the WellSpan network, is managing a heavy influx of COVID patients as the numbers spiked at the end of November.

WellSpan York Hospital - 1001 S. George St., York.

99% vaccinated of 4,087 staff members.

WellSpan Good Samaritan - 252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon

99% vaccinated of 902 staff members.

The sunsets over UPMC Memorial Hospital, August 15, 2019.

UPMC Memorial - 1701 Innovation Drive, York

100% vaccinated of 1,410 staff members.