Greetings!

This message includes
  • encouragement for you to hold booster clinics now to offer your residents and staff the best protection possible from COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes;
  • a link to an HHS Town Hall on Tuesday at 4:00 pm; and  
  • the latest COVID-19 update from VDH. 

Sincerely,

April Payne, MBA, LNHA
Chief Quality & Regulatory Affairs Officer
Executive Director of VCAL
Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living 
The Case for Boosters
 
We are encouraging all providers to hold COVID-19 vaccine booster clinics. Booster shots increase the protection that an individual has against COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes resulting from infection. With the emergence of a new variant, Omicron, it is imperative to get as many residents and staff their booster shot as soon as possible. Recent data on the Omicron variant shows that vaccination without the booster provides only about 30 percent protection against the Omicron, while vaccination with the booster (after ten days) increases protection to about 75 percent.
 
The Omicron variant is spreading incredibly rapidly. A recent report from the state of Washington suggests the prevalence in the community is doubling every 2-3 days, which mirrors the data from Africa and Europe. The speed in which this virus is likely to spread across America and the 10-day delay in booster protection would suggest that it is extremely important to get residents and staff vaccinated with the booster in the next few weeks.
  
Long term care facilities can track weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for staff and residents, including booster shots, through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The modules are located under the Long-Term Care Facilities section titled Surveillance for HCP & Resident COVID-19 Vaccination.
 
If you have questions on the Omicron variant, booster effectiveness, booster access, or the vaccine module in NHSN, please contact covid19@ahca.org. You can also visit #GetVaccinated for resources on increasing vaccine confidence. 
Town Hall with HHS Official Admiral Rachel Levine
 
โ€‹โ€‹โ€‹As the Omicron variant continues to rapidly spread across the US, and data continues to show the effectiveness of boosters in fighting this new variant, the urgency to get long term care residents and staff a booster before January 1, 2022 has never been greater.

On Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 4:00 pm, AHCA/NCAL, LeadingAge and the AARP will co-host a town hall featuring Admiral Rachel L. Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the head of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to answer questions about the Omicron variant, boosters and why we need to step up the timeline to get the booster.

We will also hear from a long term care staff member and resident/family member about their experience in receiving a booster that can help reassure residents and staff to get the booster.

Can't attend? The Town Hall will be recorded and available on ahcancalED. 
 
Town Hall featuring HHS Official Admiral Rachel Levine
Tuesday, December 21, 2021 | 4:00 pm
December 20 VDH Update:
mRNA Vaccines Preferred
and Required VIIS Reporting
 
The latest clinician letter from State Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver. Updates on the following are included in the letter:
  • CDC Prefers mRNA Vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Providers Required to Report All Immunizations to Virginia Immunization Information System Starting January 2022

The letter explains that the CDC has announced that mRNA vaccines (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both primary and booster vaccination of those 18 year of age and older.
 
The memo also includes a reminder that providers are required to report all immunizations to the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) starting January 2022. VIIS is a free statewide registry system that combines immunization histories for persons of all ages from both the public and the private sector. The requirement applies to any healthcare provider as defined in ยง32.1-127.1:03. The memo includes provider enrollment information if you are not currently using VIIS.
 
The letter advises practitioners to visit the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website for current clinical and public health guidance, epidemiologic data, and other information.
 
Additional updates from Commissioner Oliver are available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals webpage.
Upcoming Events

January 18, 2022

January 27, 2022

February 9-10, 2022

February 22 and 24, 2022 | 1:00 pm
Quick Links
www.vhca.org | (804) 353-9101 | Calendar of Events