Members of the Pennsylvania Department of Health set vaccination expectations for skilled nursing facilities in a news conference earlier this morning.
As of today, 12.5 percent of facilities have at or above 80 percent of staff vaccinated against COVID-19, however DOH Executive Deputy Secretary Keara Klinepeter says she expects all nursing homes across the state to have 80 percent of staff vaccinated by October 1.
Klinepeter said that getting 80 percent of nursing home staff vaccinated is “aggressive, but achievable,” but adds that getting vaccinated is the most effective measure against the spread of COVID-19 and it ensures the health of residents, staff and the community.
For nursing homes that do not meet the vaccination requirement by October 1, the department will require more frequent testing for unvaccinated employees. In turn, facilities that meet the expectation will be supported by the Department of Health for surveillance and outbreak testing through federal Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant funding.
Organizations and states have been supporting vaccine mandates for staff in nursing homes across the U.S.
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