Grabowski: Too many loopholes in federal vaccine mandate may retain staff, but endanger residents
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 24, 2021
Federal officials might pursue a regional approach or offer exemptions in finalizing a nursing home staff vaccination mandate, but it’s important they not water down the regulations so much as to undermine...
BREAKING: New CMS rule requires LTC providers to report weekly COVID vaccine data, which will be made...
By
Danielle Brown
May 11, 2021
Long-term care facilities will be required to report weekly data on COVID-19 vaccination status for both residents and staff, and it will be made public, under a new federal rule released Tuesday.
‘How good are those vaccines now?’ Mixed AARP nursing home report prompts a thorny question
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 15, 2021
A new AARP report shows encouraging trends in COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. But the steady rate of resident deaths raises concerns for the future as vaccine efficacy wanes, analysts say.
Pfizer, BioNTech to pursue 2nd booster shot authorization for older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2022
A second booster — or fourth dose — will be necessary to improve the vaccine’s waning protection in the face of omicron, Pfizer’s CEO has stated. Whether the FDA will find the evidence compelling...
This season’s flu vaccinations linked to lower COVID-19 likelihood, severity
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2021
People who received a flu vaccination were 24% less likely to test positive for COVID-19. And those who did contract the disease had a less severe course when compared with people who didn’t get a flu...
Build vaccine trust, vaccination rates among CNAs: HHS releases guide
By
Alicia Lasek
May 25, 2021
A comprehensive new guide and toolkit are aimed at helping nursing home administrators tackle issues of vaccine hesitancy among certified nursing assistants, as well as barriers to vaccination.
Nursing homes down 200K frontline workers, with more COVID cases on the way
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 29, 2021
The U.S. is facing a certified nurse aide shortage of about 200,000, with the situation made more dire by a surging number of unvaccinated aides being forced to quarantine with cases of a new COVID-19...
COVID-19 vaccine more effective in nursing home residents with past virus exposure: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2021
Nursing home residents who have had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection have stronger responses to vaccination than those who have not been exposed to the virus, a real-life investigation finds.
Are we there yet? Vaccination success won’t ease need for LTC vigilance, observers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 18, 2021
The need for stepped-up infection control measures likely will remain a necessity for the foreseeable future, say industry observers and stakeholders.
Providers are getting closer on the Drive to 75
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 14, 2021
At least one group of nursing homes has surpassed the 70% threshold when it comes to vaccinating staff.