BREAKING: Genesis, biggest U.S. nursing home chain, mandates staff COVID-19 vaccinations
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 03, 2021
Genesis HealthCare, the nation’s largest nursing home chain, has declared a “universal” COVID-19 vaccine policy for all employees, care partners and onsite vendors, who have three weeks to come into...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, July 27
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 27, 2021
Feds publish long-COVID disability coverage guidelines … Genesis’ targeted COVID-19 vaccine efforts increased uptake among Black, Hispanic employees … Israel may recommend Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster...
Feds wait for lowered vaccine efficacy to recommend COVID-19 booster shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 22, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine booster shots will not be necessary until mRNA vaccines become less effective, federal health officials say. But immunocompromised Americans are potential near-term recipients, they told...
Immune system boost is reason not to skip second COVID-19 shot, study finds
By
Liza Berger
Jul 20, 2021
The second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine offers a serious boost to a part of the immune system that provides broad antiviral protection, according to a Stanford University School of Medicine study. This finding...
CDC says COVID-19 vaccine boosters not yet necessary, while Pfizer seeks approval for third dose
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 12, 2021
Fully vaccinated Americans do not need a COVID-19 booster shot at this time, according to federal health officials. But Pfizer has asked to offer a third dose of its current vaccine and is developing an...
J&J vaccine effective against COVID Delta variant, drugmaker says
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 06, 2021
Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine prompts a “strong neutralizing antibody response” that lasts at least eight months, the drugmaker has announced.
Infection control experts throw support behind healthcare vaccine mandates
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 01, 2021
Voluntary vaccination policies are not a sure path to herd immunity in healthcare facilities, APIC says. The infection control advocate has endorsed vaccine mandates as a condition of employment.
Long-term care residents, staff may top list for COVID boosters: CDC advisers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 28, 2021
Most residents were vaccinated early, and time from vaccination plays into waning effectiveness, CDC advisers say. What’s more, this population already requires special considerations for other vaccines....
COVID deaths now ‘entirely preventable’ due to vaccines, CDC director says
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 24, 2021
High vaccine efficacy in the United States means that “every death due to COVID-19 is particularly tragic because nearly every death, especially among adults … [is] entirely preventable,”...
Large VA study reveals ease of COVID-19 transmission among unvaccinated healthcare staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Investigators found nearly 20 times the rate of COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated healthcare staff, plus signs that transmission clusters were linked to those workers.