CDC may be overestimating COVID-19 vaccination stats for older adults, state officials and experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 13, 2021
The agency’s online tracker currently shows that 99.9% of U.S. seniors have been at least partly vaccinated against COVID-19. But this sky-high figure is almost certainly not accurate, observers...
Program pairs nursing students with long-term care facilities to address staffing crisis
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 01, 2021
Long-term care providers EmpRes Healthcare and Pennant Healthcare are partners in the state-funded externship program with the University of Washington School of Nursing.
COVID shot boosters for all adults will help to reduce confusion, FDA says
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 22, 2021
The FDA “heard loud and clear” that a simpler booster strategy was needed, its vaccine chief says. But the action may be too late to head off a winter virus surge, observers say.
Long-term care left behind in race to nab COVID monoclonal antibodies: report
Nov 02, 2021
Delayed shipments of antibody doses are putting residents’ lives at risk after federal authorities barred direct orders of the drugs, LTC clinicians say.
FDA approves first-ever eye drop that corrects age-related vision loss
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 02, 2021
The new drug, Vuity, adjusts pupil size and corrects near vision without affecting distance vision, drugmaker Allergan says.
Brief training for LTC nurses leads to 6 months of reduced psychotropics use
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
Wards with trained nurses showed a significant reduction in psychotropic drug use and drug costs. Maintenance strategies may be needed, however, as the improvements had waned by 12 months, researchers...
Merck to seek emergency use for COVID-19 antiviral pill that cuts severe outcomes by 50 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 04, 2021
Molnupiravir has reduced COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations by half in a new clinical trial. An orally delivered drug could offer unprecedented treatment convenience, the drug’s developers say.
Nursing home staff vaccinations get a boost thanks to New York mandate; delta ups jabs nationwide
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 29, 2021
By midnight of its Monday deadline, New York state saw vaccination rates rise to 92% among nursing home and hospital workers, according to a new report.
COVID-19 antiviral drug trials expected to wrap up within months: report
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 27, 2021
Clinical trials for new COVID-19 antiviral drugs are expected to wrap up by winter, sparking hopes that a daily pill to treat COVID-19 infection is closer to fruition, according to a new report.
WHO: Antibody treatment most beneficial for seniors, the unvaccinated, and immunocompromised
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 27, 2021
The World Health Organization’s new guidance for using the REGEN-COV monoclonal antibody cocktail to treat COVID-19 covers a narrower group of patients than those included in the FDA’s updated...