In the late 2010s, the long-term care industry began to take action that would reflect the growing importance of incorporating robust infection prevention practices. Facilities were required to develop...
Updated: 22 states petition CMS to repeal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 17, 2022
A coalition of 22 states led by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R), today formally called on the Biden administration to withdraw its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for nursing home and other healthcare...
Severe long COVID linked to lasting cough, sputum production
By
Kristen Fischer
Nov 17, 2023
People who experienced severe long COVID had two stand-out symptoms: Persistent cough and a lot of sputum within the year after being hospitalized for their initial infection, according to a new study.
FDA mulling COVID-19 boosters for elderly, immunocompromised
By
Ron Rajecki
Mar 24, 2023
The Food and Drug Administration reportedly is considering a new round of COVID-19 booster shots for individuals who are at high risk of severe disease, including those aged 65 or more years or those who...
Working together to combat vaccine hesitancy
By
David Gifford, M.D.
Dec 19, 2023
We must ensure that our population has vaccines to fight off common respiratory viruses this holiday season — and beyond.
Pandemic has taken significant toll on patients with dementia, geriatricians say
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 26, 2022
The pandemic has hastened the cognitive decline of patients with dementia in unprecedented ways, doctors confirm. Despite rising cases, clinicians must emphasize socialization, they say.
House COVID panel spreads nursing home blame, looks to next pandemic
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 18, 2023
Three years after the height of the pandemic forever transformed nursing homes, a new Congressional panel took a stab Wednesday at finding someone to blame for deadly COVID-19 miscalculations.
CDC: Two booster shots cut severe COVID risk in nursing home residents by 74 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 03, 2022
Nursing home residents who received a second mRNA booster shot during omicron were much less likely to suffer severe COVID-19 outcomes than their peers who received only one dose, a new study shows.
FDA proposes two annual COVID shots for seniors in ‘simplified’ vaccine schedule
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 24, 2023
In an effort to streamline COVID-19 protection, older adults and others vulnerable to severe disease would receive two annual shots of an updated vaccine, according to a plan to be evaluated on Thursday...
Three years in, pandemic jabs keep coming
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Mar 10, 2023
Ahead of Saturday’s third anniversary of the pandemic’s official declaration, one infection preventionist who spent much of COVID’s first year on frontlines in multiple states reflected on the challenges...