COVID ‘breakthrough’ outbreak affects one quarter of residents at French nursing home
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 15, 2021
In a facility with a 97% resident vaccination rate, the large number of infections shows that a shot alone is not enough to protect the frail elderly from SARS-CoV-2, researchers contend.
CDC issues new COVID infection prevention and control guidance for nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 15, 2021
A CDC Project Firstline webinar will answer clinicians’ questions on the updates, which include alternative approaches to outbreak response;
expanded screening test recommendations for healthcare...
Prescribing off-label COVID boosters may put providers at legal risk: report
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 06, 2021
Clinicians who provide additional COVID-19 shots to fully vaccinated patients may be at risk for legal claims if they prescribe the doses outside of current federal guidelines, CDC says.
COVID vaccine protection drops by 80 percent in 6 months among nursing home residents: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 03, 2021
Vaccinated staff members had a similar six-month decrease in immunity levels, investigators say. The data may support recommendations for vaccine booster shots, they contend.
Orthostatic intolerance common in post-acute patients, signaling need for clinical workup
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 02, 2021
Older rehabilitation patients should be assessed for symptoms of orthostatic intolerance upon admission, a new study suggests.
With approval of Pfizer vaccine, half of unvaccinated poll respondents likely to get COVID shot
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 01, 2021
Nearly 50% of unvaccinated Americans who have heard about the FDA’s approval say they will now “probably” or “definitely” consider getting the shot, according to a new Harris poll.
Repeat positive COVID tests in nursing home residents tied to excess deaths: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 30, 2021
The prevalence of repeat positive tests suggests true reinfections in residents — and more quickly waning immunity, according to a study across all Connecticut facilities.
COVID-19 hospitalization rates 30 times higher in the unvaccinated, CDC finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 26, 2021
Despite the known effectiveness of U.S.-sanctioned COVID-19 vaccines, some fully vaccinated individuals will still become infected. But their unvaccinated peers have five times the risk of infection and...
LTC clinicians cheer pandemic milestone: Federal approval of first COVID-19 vaccine
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 24, 2021
Long-term care clinicians are embracing the FDA’s first full approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, saying the decision will support their efforts to increase vaccination coverage and reduce infections and...
Pandemic persists in nursing homes with low vax rates; case counts rising, NIC analyst says
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 23, 2021
Half of the U.S. skilled nursing facilities with newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in early August had staff vaccination rates 12% below the national average, new data show. At the same time, overall per-resident...