WASHINGTON (AP) – Just over a third of nursing home workers received COVID-19 vaccines when the shots were first offered, U.S. health officials said Monday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a national report on a problem that has been reported anecdotally – many nursing home workers do not get the chance.
The CDC looked at more than 11,000 nursing homes and competent nursing homes that had at least one vaccination clinic between mid-December and mid-January. The researchers found that 78% of residents received at least one shot, but only 37.5% of staff members did so.
Data have previously shown that people working in nursing homes and long-term care facilities receive lower rates than other health care workers. Surveys indicate that long-term caregivers are skeptical about the shots, and that viruses do not spread easily from the people they care for.
The issue was discussed last week during a meeting of an expert panel advising the CDC on vaccine policy. At the meeting, dr. Amanda Cohn, CDC, said more staff members are vaccinated if a second or third clinic is kept at home.
“Continuing to capture staff members who did not receive the vaccine early will be very important as we try to eliminate outbreaks and to protect staff and residents in long-term care facilities,” Cohn said.
The government has instructed CVS and Walgreens to administer the shots in long-term care homes in almost every state. Each vaccine requires two shots a few weeks apart, and CVS and Walgreens say they have wrapped up first-class clinics in nursing homes. The chains are planning three visits to each location.
The CDC on Monday released a second report that offers a greater national view on who gets the vaccine.
The CDC study found that of the people who received at least one shot between mid-December and mid-January, 63% were women and 55% 50 years or older. It was also found that 60% white, 11.5% Spanish, 6% Asian, 5% black, 2% American Indian / Alaska, and most others multiracial.
The report echoes previously released data from states.
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