Delta Variant The CDC classified COVID-19 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant as a Variant of Concern (VOC). The vast majority of fully vaccinated people who become infected with the delta variant suffer only mild symptoms. Still, many people refuse vaccinations. We need to protect nursing home residents. Throughout the global pandemic, nursing home residents have suffered isolation
Mandate Vaccine Shots? Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show an average of 79% of residents in nursing homes have gotten their vaccine shots. However, just 56% of caregivers in long-term care facilities have been vaccinated. Only 1 in 5 facilities achieved an industry target of getting 75 percent of their health
Excess Deaths DHHS reported a 32 percent increase in deaths among Medicare patients in U.S. nursing homes last year. There were 169,291 more deaths among Medicare patients in nursing homes in 2020 than in 2019. About 40% had COVID-19. Compared with 2019, death rates were higher every month last year, with two spikes, in April
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Services data shows more than 90% of coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations were unvaccinated people. Unfortunately, only 45% of South Carolinians are fully vaccinated. More than 170 million Americans are safe after the vaccination. Hopefully, vaccine hesitancy will decline further. DHEC’s Dr. Jane Kelly: “The overwhelming majority of people
A federal court in Texas dismissed a frivolous lawsuit by 117 hospital employees. The employees believe they have certain rights to refuse a workplace vaccination requirement. Judge Lynn N. Hughes, a Reagan appointee, said Plaintiffs had no case. Houston Methodist suspended 178 employees who refuse the vaccine requirement. Plaintiffs “misconstrued” the law and “misrepresented the
Dr. Brannon Traxler is the Public Health Director for South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Services. She is concerned about the Delta variant. The Delta variant carries a higher rate of transmission. The variant also has a greater chance of severe disease than other COVID-19 variants. She is begging younger adults to get vaccinated.