Russian COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine and Syringe Concept Image.

On January 3rd, Katie Sloan and Ruth Katz met with HHS Secretary Becerra and a small group of his senior advisors, along with Mark Parkinson and David Gifford of the American Health Care Association. This was the second meeting of the group convened by the Secretary to focus on increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among nursing home residents. The Secretary reminded us of the obligation nursing homes have to educate residents and their families about vaccines. Nationally, only 33% of nursing home residents are up to date (with the most recent booster); LeadingAge member nursing homes are seeing much higher rates – just under 46% of residents are up to date. For reference, only 39% of adults over age 65 in the general community are up to date.

HHS worked with the White House to post a read out of the meeting. Although not reflected in the read out, LeadingAge and AHCA used the meeting to discuss suggestions for departmental actions to help raise rates of resident acceptance. Suggestions included revising CDC information materials to reflect the idea that the vaccines won’t prevent COVID but will reduce the severity of symptoms; providing single vial doses; working with hospitals to encourage them to offer vaccines on discharge; and increasing the Secretary’s use of communication channels to “nudge” residents and their family members. 

The Secretary and his team are very interested in details about what nursing homes are doing to educate residents. They would like to point to providers with high success rates and learn how they did it, then hold them out as exemplars. LeadingAge members with positive experiences can reach out to Ruth (rkatz@leadingage.org), Janine (jfinck-boyle@leadingage.org), or Jodi (jeyigor@leadingage.org).

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Kylee Childs, MSW, is the Director of Government Affairs.Since joining the association in 2023, she continues to be a fierce and resourceful advocate for aging services in Kansas. Her professional focus has always been service to others through advocacy. Kylee has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in Conflict Analysis and Trauma studies from Kansas State University, and a certificate in Grant Proposal Writing from Fort Hays State University. With a professional background in law enforcement and child welfare, and a successful 2023 legislative practicum with the Children's Alliance of Kansas, she brings rich professional experience to her role as Director of Government Affairs, and a front-line perspective on the needs of health and human services providers in our state. When not working, she's spending time with her two daughters. You can reach Kylee directly at 785.670.8051.