key: cord-1003257-thc79p8l
authors: Dumyati, Ghinwa; Jump, Robin L.P.; Gaur, Swati
title: Mandating COVID-19 vaccine for nursing home staff: an ethical obligation
date: 2021-08-26
journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.08.017
sha: 6f75aa05a55fb9df1befed8c1dc60e6fc6dae79b
doc_id: 1003257
cord_uid: thc79p8l

nan

vaccinations are fundamental to protect both residents and staff in long term care settings. Since 2 the roll out of effective COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020, over 80% of nursing home 3 residents have been vaccinated. 1 Unfortunately, long-term care settings are now experiencing 4 COVID-19 outbreaks, despite high vaccination rates among residents, some of whom developed 5 breakthrough infections. Healthcare workers are the primary vectors that introduce SARS-CoV-6 2, including the Delta strain, into their workplace. Nationally, the rates of vaccination among 7 long-term care (LTC) staff as of mid-August hovered around 60%. 1 As the prevalence of 8 COVID-19 infections increase in the community, the risk of unvaccinated staff acquiring 9 infection and transmitting COVID-19 to the vulnerable residents for whom they provide care 10 also increases. The negative consequences of even a single COVID-19 infection among LTC 11 residents or staff range from at least 2 weeks of quarantine for one or more units to severe illness 12 and death. For these reasons, vaccine mandates are gaining momentum. as to reduce staff illness and absenteeism. 4 Influenza vaccination rates remained low until 24 the 2019-2020 influenza season, vaccine uptake among LTC healthcare workers was around 26 70%. Nursing homes that mandated influenza vaccine reached a rate greater than 85% among 27 their employees. 5 While important for influenza, the need to achieve high vaccination rates for 28 SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers is essential for the health, safety, and quality of life of 29 long-term care residents. 

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Biden to require COVID vaccines for nursing home staff

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