VACCINE NEWS
Possibility of COVID-19 Illness After Vaccination
Earlier this week, CDC updated the page on the possibility of COVID-19 illness after vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines protect people against severe illness, including disease caused by Delta and other variants circulating in the U.S. COVID-19 vaccines protect people from getting infected and severely ill, and significantly reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and death.
A member shared this on the weekly webinar about how to boost vaccination rates:
Our medical director volunteered to talk 1:1 with employees but some frontline staff were uncomfortable talking with him. We had staff submit their questions/fears in writing. He researched each question and then prepared a document answering each question in detail.
FEDERAL NEWS
Highlights of National Nursing Homes Stakeholder Call With CMS and CDC Held Aug 25th
CMS stated that much of the upcoming vaccine mandate cannot be discussed because of the rulemaking process, they were able to clarify some questions that have been circulating, including those included in the LeadingAge FAQs here, including timing of the rule’s release and enforcement. CMS noted that while NHSN data indicates that vaccination is serving to protect residents during the delta surge and revision of visitation and other guidance is not indicated at this time, survey reports are showing concerning increases in other resident issues such as weight loss, loss of mobility, and increased need for assistance with ADLs.
CDC shared about ongoing vaccination for residents and staff, including additional doses and boosters for those who are eligible. They encouraged providers to work with their LTC pharmacy partners. Providers can consider pairing booster clinics with flu vaccine clinics, as CDC no longer discourages co-administration of the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccinations (read all about that here). NHSN is being updated to include questions about additional COVID-19 doses.
OSHA to Host Virtual Healthcare Symposium
Make plans to attend the no-cost OSHA Healthcare Symposium to learn more about OSHA’s approach to healthcare topics. The virtual event will take place on Tuesday, August 31st. Topics include ETS- Overview and How to Comply, NEP Enforcement, Vaccination and Testing, Safe Patient Handling, Violence Prevention, and Suicide Prevention. To learn more or register visit OSHA Summer 2021 Healthcare Symposium – August 31, 2021 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Note: LeadingAge Kansas is on the record opposing making the ETS permanent for long term care providers.
USDA Announces Grant Funds for Rural Area Covid Recovery
Through the newly announced Emergency Rural Health Care Program, the UDSA is providing Covid recovery and preparation grants to rural health care providers. Grants are intended to broaden access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines and rural health care. These cost share grants can be used for things like lost revenue, testing and vaccination efforts, medical and testing supplies, remodeling or construction of spaces to meet care needs during a pandemic, HVAC systems replacement, negative pressure spaces, etc. These examples are not an exhaustive list. The criteria are broad to help meet your organization’s needs. For more information or to apply visit the program website and check out these Frequently Asked Questions. Slides from the program webinar are available and recording of the session will be shared soon.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
LeadingAge Kansas Opposes Federal Mandate for Nursing Home Staff Vaccination
The Board voted earlier this week to adopt and continue strong advocacy for the following position:
LeadingAge Kansas opposes any federal edict requiring ANY type of health care provider to mandate staff COVID-19 vaccination as a Condition of Participation in Medicaid or Medicare. This constitutes an ill-conceived government action, fraught with potential for serious negative consequences to the entire healthcare system and the people it serves. However, if the federal government does, indeed, impose this requirement on nursing homes, it should be applied to all healthcare settings, to avoid the disproportionate and inevitable blow to availability of nursing home care for older Kansans.
Additional background and rationale
LeadingAge Kansas Quoted in the News
News outlets have picked up on the Biden Administration’s vaccination mandate for all nursing home employees. Here are the media outlets where Debra Zehr was featured:
- WIBW News: Staff vaccine mandate could lead to shortages, even closure for some Kansas nursing homes
- Topeka Capital Journal: Kansas long-term care facilities see low staff vaccination rates, but federal mandate may spur worker shortage
Miss Today’s Weekly Webinar? Listen to the Recording
Listen to the recording. Download the Handouts.
Join us each week to hear the latest on COVID and other important information for organization. Presenter Anne Yeakley, KDADS CARE Program Manager has been postponed, please be watching for the new date. She is scheduled to talk about PASRR and CARE. Register here.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
Upcoming Coronavirus Calls
- Mon Aug 30th at 2:30 PM – How to handle breakthrough COVID cases. Fellow LeadingAge member Barbara Thomas, CEO of Kendal at Oberlin who will talk about her recent experience and lessons learned.
- Weds Sept 1st 2:30 PM – Boosters.Dr. Monica Gandhi will outline her thinking and rationale about whether boosters are needed and provide candid advice on what is happening with COVID-19.
Register here for their webinars.
LeadingAge National Vaccine Town Hall
National hosted a national Town Hall on Vaccine Mandate yesterday. Read the summary article here.
FAQs Article on Pending Mandate
Read the latest FAQs on the pending nursing home vaccine mandate here. The FAQs will be updated as more questions and answers come in, so make sure to check back regularly.
Job Resignation in Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Quality of Employer Communication
LeadingAge’s Verena Cimarolli, Natasha Bryant, and Robyn Stone, contributed to a recent study in the Journal of Applied Gerontology. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the quality of employer communication related to COVID-19 and staff preparedness to care for residents can mediate the effects of COVID-19-relate stressors on a nursing home employee’s decision to resign. Read the abstract and learn more about the study.
What Can YOU Do to Resolve the LTSS Workforce Crisis?
In her latest blog, LeadingAge Senior Vice President of Research Robyn Stone says success in the LTSS workforce arena depends on a variety of stakeholders—providers, policymakers, consumers and their families, professional caregivers and their associations, local businesses, educational institutions, and others. Each of us must do our part while working together toward shared goals. The blog talks about LeadingAge’s plan to address our workforce challenges, Feeling Valued Because They ARE Valued: A Vision for Professionalizing the Caregiving Workforce in the Field of Long-Term Services and Supports.
Nursing Home Vaccine Mandate FAQs
Last week, the White House announced an initiative to require staff in nursing homes to be vaccinated against COVID-19. CMS followed with an announcement of pending regulation, due in September. Due to the rulemaking process, little is known at this time about the pending requirements. The Frequently Asked Questions curated here are based on feedback from members and will be updated as new information becomes available. Read LeadingAge’s recent statement on vaccine mandates.
THANK YOU TO OUR BRONZE PARTNER
