Vaccination necessary to ‘do no harm’
A decision by a nursing home operator to require vaccines among its staff is the right one.
“First do no harm,” the often quoted mantra of doctors, is a message being reinforced as the delta variant of COVID-19 raises new and increasing health concerns for vulnerable people in nursing homes and state institutions.
The announcement last week by the nation’s largest nursing home operator that workers must be vaccinated in order to enter facilities — in essence, to keep their jobs — was welcome news. Frankly, we think it was long overdue.
This week, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a directive to all health care workers in state-run institutions: Get vaccinated or submit to frequent coronavirus testing.
Several hospital networks have issued similar directives, as have neighboring states.
Last week’s announcement by Genesis Healthcare was the first move toward mandatory vaccinations in the nursing home industry which has largely rejected compulsory measures for fear of triggering an employee exodus that could worsen already dangerous staffing shortages, the Associated Press reported.
“The new requirement at Genesis Healthcare, which has 70,000 employees at nearly 400 nursing homes and senior communities, is the clearest sign yet that such places may be willing to take that risk amid the surging delta variant and the fact that more than 40% of U.S. nursing home workers still have not gotten the shot,” AP reported.
Genesis, which is based in Kennett Square, operates a number of facilities in this region including Pennsburg Manor, Sanatoga Center, Norriton Square, Edgehill Nursing and Rehabilitation, and Hopkins Center in Montgomery County, and Quakertown Center in Lower Bucks.
The initial vaccine distribution early this year targeted nursing home residents and employees in the sites where the virus had hit hard. More than 130,000 nursing home residents in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, making such institutions by far the deadliest place to be during the pandemic, according to federal data.
The development of vaccines in late 2020 and distribution early this year was seen as a godsend to that vulnerable population, both in saving lives and allowing families to resume visits with their loved ones.
But workers in those homes were not an easy sell for the vaccine and as many as 40 percent remained unvaccinated, according to national reporting. Health experts warned that unprotected staff members could endanger residents — a risk that is growing with the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.
The move by Genesis to require employees to be vaccinated was seen as a benchmark allowing other nursing home operators to follow suit. Some states and cities have issued orders making vaccination mandatory in nursing homes.
Genesis said volunteer vaccinations were appropriate earlier in the pandemic, but not now, as the more infectious variant spreads and only 65% of its staff has received shots. Genesis is giving employees until Aug. 23 to get their first shot.
“To succeed against the delta variant is going to require much higher vaccination rates,” said Chief Medical Officer Richard Feifer. “Our tactics in the fight have to change.”
On Tuesday, Wolf announced that employees in state health care facilities and high-risk congregate care facilities are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 7 or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Additionally, beginning September 7, all new external hires in these facilities must be vaccinated before commencing employment.
The order pertains to approximately 25,000 employees working in 24-hour-operated state facilities including state hospitals, state homes for people with intellectual disabilities, veterans homes, community health centers, and state correction institutions.
Other hospital systems are mandating vaccination for employees, as well, despite the concern that shortages of nurses and aides may worsen if people leave their jobs rather than adhere to the rule.
Respecting the personal decision on whether to get the shot competes in this situation with the decision to commit to the critical need of caring for those most vulnerable. This virus has taken far too great a toll on the elderly, and extreme measures are necessary to protect them, including compulsory vaccinations for those who provide care. Doing no harm starts here.