Connecticut Mandate
Connecticut is the latest state to mandate vaccines for nursing home caregivers. This will protect residents and increase herd immunity to stop the mutations. Many nursing homes are embracing the new, mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. Staff has until September 7 to get at least one dose of a vaccine. Civil penalties can be $20,000 per day although that is unlikely.
Gov. Ned Lamont said:
“It would be absolutely irresponsible for anyone working in a long-term care facility to not receive this protection that could prevent widespread infection among those who are most vulnerable from dying of this communicable disease.”
By instituting an across-the-board mandate, rules for operators are equal, fair and reasonable. The industry believes a mandate alleviates disparities from facility to facility.
“As the most effective tool to protect vulnerable older adults from the virus, we have been encouraging and working toward the widespread acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination for all staff in healthcare, senior care and senior living communities,” added Mag Morelli, president of LeadingAge Connecticut.
Gov. Lamont’s order noted that about 55% of all nursing homes statewide have a staff vaccination rate of lower than 75%, and just 21% of nursing homes in the state have a staff vaccination rate higher than 85%. Much better than the nursing home sin South Carolina!