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.
Senators to HHS: Release Provider Relief ‘without further delay’
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 31, 2021
The Department of Health and Human Services must release unobligated money in federal Provider Relief Funds “without further delay” to prevent further financial ruin for struggling healthcare providers,...
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...
Delta variant decreasing vaccine effectiveness among frontline healthcare workers, CDC study shows
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 25, 2021
Fully vaccinated frontline healthcare workers were significantly better protected from contracting COVID-19 before the delta variant emerged as the dominant strain, according to new data released by the...
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...
Clinical briefs for Monday, Aug. 23
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 23, 2021
FDA pushing to fully approve Pfizer COVID vaccine this week … Accessible strength training nearly equals effect of drugs in lowering blood pressure, experts find … Need for yearly COVID shot may not...
Third COVID shots ready for LTC by Sept. 20; vaccine efficacy declines in nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 19, 2021
The U.S. government is prepared to offer COVID-19 booster shots to vaccinated Americans beginning on Sept. 20, including direct delivery to long-term care facility residents, officials announced Wednesday.