COVID-19 UPDATE #278

December 22, 2022

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), "We Can Do This" COVID-19 public education campaign is a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines. The effort uses a wide network of trusted messengers to relay the most accurate information about vaccines to their communities. This is a national effort involving traditional media (TV, print, radio) along with digital and social media. HHS is asking for your help in amplifying these messages to your providers, staff, and residents.

Abundant resources are available and through grants, pop-up vaccine clinics can be brought to your facilities and or webinars/town halls can be put on with subject matter experts to help reach your staff, residents, and families. In addition, you can access the updated COVID Vaccines Toolkit and other featured topics and resources to help build vaccine confidence and increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake in your communities. For questions, please email Pam Truscott.

To remain in compliance with the Nurse Aid 1135 waiver, Washington State is required to provide CMS monthly reports. As a part of the report process, the state needs to compile information from each CMS certified nursing home on a monthly basis. Please assist in this process by completing this 3-question survey. If we are unable to provide the requested information to CMS, Washington State may lose this critically important 1135 waiver and the ability to allow NARs to continue working in a nursing home beyond four months while they complete the certification process.

This survey is only for SNFs, please complete the survey for December if your facility has not already done so for this month.

AHCA/NCAL has developed a new #GetVaccinated handout to help long term care staff discuss the value of the bivalent booster with their residents. This was designed in response to members saying that residents or their family members are hesitant to get the bivalent booster. We heard your request to address common concerns and provide the latest data on the effectiveness of the bivalent booster.  

The handout discusses how the bivalent booster helps reduce the risk of developing serious symptoms or hospitalizations from COVID. It also speaks to those with prior COVID infections as well as those who already had one or more original boosters about the need to still get the bivalent booster.  

COVID cases are increasing nationally as the winter months and the holiday season are upon us. While the booster may not prevent infections, we know that it can help residents from becoming very sick or being hospitalized. AHCA/NCAL encourages you to use this handout to discuss the value of getting the bivalent booster this winter with all your unboosted residents and/or their families or resident representative.  

Find the handout on the LTC Provider Resources page on the AHCA/NCAL #GetVaccinated website, or download directly now. To learn more about how you can help reduce the impact of COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections this winter click here.

The Biden Administration announced a COVID-19 Winter Preparedness plan. The plan involves several strategies to expand access to testing, vaccines, and treatments. To support the Winter Preparedness plan, the White House has released a winter playbook for nursing homes and other LTC facilities. The playbook outlines actions facilities can take to encourage vaccine uptake, testing, and treatment, and improve indoor air quality. Many of these strategies are already underway in LTC facilities across the country. 

Please email COVID19@ahca.org with any questions.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) announced it is taking steps to make it easier for long term care (LTC) facilities to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to staff and residents. The CDC is now allowing LTC pharmacies to transfer COVID-19 vaccine/boosters to LTC facilities in single dose vials to directly vaccinate residents and staff by waiving some of the reporting requirements LTC pharmacies had to follow. This move comes after strong advocacy by AHCA/NCAL. Read more here.