Many members of the nursing home team across the country decreased the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC researchers analyzed more than 11,000 qualified nursing facilities that maintained at least one vaccination clinic between mid-December and mid-January, finding that nearly 78% of residents at these facilities received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But among officials, estimates plummeted to 37.5%.
“The program achieved moderately high coverage among residents; however, continuous development and implementation of communication and outreach strategies are needed to improve vaccination coverage among employees in [skilled nursing facilities] and other long-term care settings, “wrote the researchers in the report.
“The lower percentage of vaccinated employees raises concerns about low coverage among a population at high risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2,” they added.
THE CDC COULD RECOMMEND DOUBLE MASK USE, SAYS FAUCI
The results provide evidence of a problem that has been largely anecdotally reported up to this point.
Previous data showed that people who work in nursing homes and long-term care facilities receive flu vaccines at lower rates than other health professionals, the CDC noted in the report. Research suggests that long-term care workers are skeptical about the effect of vaccines and do not think that viruses spread easily from them to the people they care for.
The problem was discussed last week during a meeting of a panel of experts advising the CDC on vaccine policy. At the meeting, Dr. Amanda Cohn of the CDC said that more employees are vaccinated when a second or third clinic is held in a home.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“Continuing to capture employees who did not accept the vaccine early will be very important as we try to eliminate outbreaks and protect both employees and residents in long-term care facilities,” said Cohn.
The government has mandated CVS and Walgreens to administer vaccines in long-term care homes in almost every state. Each vaccine requires two injections a few weeks apart, and CVS and Walgreens say they involved first-rate nursing homes. The networks plan three visits to each location.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.