Our facility does offer the Covid vaccines to both our residents and staff.
Our facility does complete covid testing on both residents and staff. The frequency of testing is dependent on our current covid status. If we have had no covid cases for 14 consecutive days and we are open for visitation, all unvaccinated residents and staff are tested monthly. If we do experience a covid positive, we would complete covid testing twice a week on all residents and all staff.
Based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of medical and public health experts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities be included among those offered the first supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Early protection of all health care professionals is critical in order for them to continue taking care of residents at Long Term Care Facilities. Both are on the front lines and risk being exposed to COVID-19 each day on the job. Making sure long term care residents can receive COVID-19 vaccination as soon as vaccine is available will help save the lives of those who are most at risk of dying from COVID-19.
Benefits of Getting Vaccinated
Why is it important that both Long Term Care Professionals and residents receive COVID-19 vaccine?
Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is an important step to reduce a person’s chance of becoming sick with COVID-19 disease. Health care professionals were placed first in line to receive COVID-19 vaccine because of their essential role in fighting this deadly pandemic and their increased risk of getting COVID-19 and spreading it to their patients. Their decision to get vaccinated can protect more than just their health. It can also help protect their colleagues, patients, families, and communities.
Ensuring Long term care residents receive COVID-19 vaccination as soon as vaccine is available will help save the lives of those at highest risk for infection and severe illness from COVID-19. Because residents live in group settings and are often older adults with underlying chronic medical conditions, they are most at risk of severe disease from diseases like COVID-19.
How can facility administrators reassure HCP, residents, and residents’ families that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, even though it’s new?
COVID-19 vaccines are being held to the same safety standards as all other vaccines. The federal government has been working since the pandemic began to make one or more COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible while ensuring they are safe and effective through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority. COVID-19 vaccines were tested in large studies that included thousands of adults age 65 and older. The study results showed that the vaccines were safe and provided protection from COVID-19 in these older adults.
The most common side effects were pain at the injection site and systemic symptoms like fever and chills. These side effects tended to be mild to moderate and went away on their own quickly. Serious side effects after vaccination were very rare. In addition, side effects were more frequent and severe in younger people compared to those that are older (>55 years).
Several expert and independent groups evaluate the safety of vaccines being given to people in the United States. After a review of all the available information, ACIP, and CDC agreed that the lifesaving benefits of vaccinating residents against COVID-19 outweigh the possible risks.
Is it safe to get a Covid-19 vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition?
Yes. COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with underlying health problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity. People with these conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 disease itself and need protection provided by the vaccine.
We are hopeful that the information provided will help you in making a decision regarding your loved one receiving the Covid-19 Vaccination. Our facility offers the vaccination to both our residents and staff at no costs.
We will be hosting a vaccination clinic for residents and staff, date to be determined. If you are interested, please contact Natasha Zeigler, R.N., Infection Preventionist by calling 717-530-8300.
Evidence for Effectiveness of Masks
Your mask helps protect those around you
COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near you or they may breathe these droplets in.
Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.
You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick. This is because several studies have found that people with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who are not yet showing symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can still spread the virus to other people. Wearing a mask helps protect those around you, in case you are infected but not showing symptoms.
It is especially important to wear a mask when you are indoors with people you do not live with and when you are unable to stay at least 6 feet apart since COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another.
