As the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus continues to become the dominant strain, Florida is falling behind with nursing home residents receiving their booster shots. Two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine may not prevent infection from the Omicron variant, but receiving a booster appears to provide the strongest protection against hospitalization and death from the more contagious variant. Source.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, around 38% of Florida nursing home residents have received a booster shot, falling well behind the national average of 55%. Additionally, only 17% of nursing home staff have received a booster dose, also falling behind the national average of 24%. This data is only for nursing homes and does not include assisted living facilities.
Booster numbers are expected to increase as concern about the Omicron variant continues to rise. The spokesperson for the Florida Health Care Association advises the association has been working with pharmacy partners to host booster clinics in nursing homes, much like they did with the original vaccine, as residents may not be easily able to leave their nursing home to get the booster shot.
Nursing homes should be a safe place for your loved ones to be cared for when they can no longer take care of themselves. When you decide to place your loved one in the care of someone else, it can be devastating to learn that they are not getting the best possible care. With nursing home staff entering and exiting the facility every day, there is a higher risk of bringing the Omicron variant to the nursing home, putting residents further at risk when they are already in the most vulnerable population.
If you feel your loved one is not being properly cared for in their nursing home, contact the personal injury attorneys at Beltz & Beltz. Our team will fight to get justice for your loved ones. To read more articles similar to this one, check out the Beltz & Beltz blog.
