Politico: Three years into the Pandemic, Nursing Home Residents Are Still in Covid's Crosshairs

[Tomconroy]

Three years into the pandemic, nursing home residents are still in Covid’s crosshairs
Scaling back on vaccine clinics and not updating staff vaccine requirements has slowed down booster rates at nursing homes, advocates say.



02/15/2023 04:30 AM EST

Federal health agencies worked to get more nursing home residents and staff to take the latest Covid booster all winter, creating social media hashtags, putting money into vaccine hotlines and flagging the worst performing facilities to states.

But their decision to scale back on two vaccine interventions that were critical in getting residents and staff protected from Covid during the first vaccine rollout in late 2020 and 2021 has left the job mostly to facilities, resident advocates say, with disappointing results.


Today, just over half of nursing home residents and nearly 23 percent of nursing home staff have received the bivalent booster, a precipitous drop from the more than 85 percent of residents and staff who received the primary vaccine.

That’s still higher than most Americans: A scant 16 percent of the eligible U.S. population has gotten the updated shot. But when it comes to Covid, nursing home residents have never been like most Americans. Nursing home residents make up about one out of every six cumulative Covid deaths in the U.S., according to AARP, and hundreds of residents are still dying each week.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/15/pandemic-nursing-home-covid-00082913
Per the NY Times 90% of Covid deaths in January 2023 were amount those 65 and over.

[hlthe2b]

1. If you have a beloved family member in one of these facilites, you are going to need to

risk upsetting someone to demand/ensure staff are following protocols. But, better than leaving your family member at the mercy of those often poorly trained, low-level staff who are neither vaccinated nor wearing masks (or at least don't wear masks correctly). Now that they have "cover" from the COVID-deniers/Anti-vaxxers and politicians, this is a nightmare. Many states have strong regulations of nursing homes and an agency within the state health department that oversees them. I'd recommend contacting them if you don't get a responsive answer to your inquiries/concerns. IF all else fails, it may be worth the $$ to have a personal attorney contact the state regulatory agency involved with the state's nursing home to express concerns and to inquire. He/she might do so without identifying specific clients so as to diminish backlash.