Remote infection control assessments have superior reach in early pandemic trial
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 29, 2021
Virtual infection prevention and control assessments reached four times as many skilled nursing facilities as onsite visits in the same timeframe, according to a study in 92 SNFs early in the pandemic.
Elders’ hospitalizations fall; 7 in 10 have at least one COVID shot
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 26, 2021
Hospitalizations are down for the U.S. population overall, and older Americans account for an increasingly smaller proportion of admissions, according to the latest weekly data from the Centers for Disease...
CDC posts videos to educate staff, residents on its 2 vaccine safety systems
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2021
YouTube videos detail the VAERS reporting system for CNAs and other facility providers, plus the agency’s smartphone-enabled post-vaccination health checker, or v-safe, which can be used by residents...
Coronavirus reinfections in Kentucky nursing home worse second time around, officials say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 26, 2021
Five residents of a skilled nursing facility tested positive twice for SARS-CoV-2 in separate outbreaks three months apart, before vaccines were available. The disease course was more severe in the second...
To quarantine or not? CDC’s post-vaccine guidance for exposed workers gives nod to staff shortages
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 12, 2021
Fully vaccinated individuals may now skip quarantine after exposure to an infected person. But that doesn’t go for healthcare workers in facility settings — except as a last option.
CDC: COVID vaccines can be interchanged and doses delayed in supply crunch
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2021
The agency has suggested exceptions to its official vaccine rules for cases when supply shortages interrupt second doses.
First of two COVID-19 vaccination clinics complete at most nursing homes: CDC
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2021
Almost all nursing homes in the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care program have scheduled the first of two COVID-19 vaccination clinics, and 88% had completed the first clinic as of Jan. 21.
CDC’s social media toolkit tackles COVID-19 vaccination education
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 11, 2021
LTC providers can use a new set of pre-written social media messages and digital images to encourage staff and residents to learn more about COVID-19 vaccine safety and benefits.
Thanks in part to COVID-19 precautions, flu season is off to mild start, CDC expert says
By
Liza Berger
Dec 14, 2020
There appears to be an indirect upside to all the mask wearing and social distancing: less flu activity in nursing homes and overall.
The dissent: CDC adviser fears loss of vaccine confidence
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 07, 2020
Although the first COVID-19 vaccines may be safe, symptoms or death from unrelated causes in the vulnerable LTC population may be incorrectly associated with immunization, one adviser says.