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* Tribune…
Amid rising COVID-19 public infection rates, the low rate of vaccinations among workers at nursing homes is raising concerns about a potential resurgence of the virus among vulnerable residents and prompting calls for mandated inoculations.
While 80% of residents of long-term care facilities in Illinois have been vaccinated, only 60% of workers have, according to federal data. […]
Like many hospitals and health systems, some nursing homes now are requiring employees to get vaccinated. Industry giants Brookdale Senior Living and Genesis Healthcare Inc., and some downstate facilities have announced mandates.
The Illinois Health Care Association, which represents about 485 facilities, would support a statewide mandate, Executive Director Matt Hartman said. […]
SEIU Healthcare Illinois, which represents many nursing home workers and has promoted voluntary vaccinations, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
* Meanwhile, keep this in mind when you read news stories based on case-counts alone…
After Chicago began averaging more than 400 daily new cases of COVID-19 this week, the city’s public health officials announced the indoor mask requirement will be reinstituted starting Friday.
“We may need to put further restrictions in place, but different from last year, a high case count does not automatically translate to high hospitalizations and a high death count,” Dr. Allison Arwady, head of Chicago’s public health department, said Tuesday.
The Cook County Department of Public Health said it’s considering a mask mandate, too. The department oversees health policy for the Cook County suburbs. Suburban Cook County is averaging 446 new cases of the virus a day, according to Illinois Department of Public Health figures.
Why is it different from last year? The vaccine. 54 percent of Chicago residents are vaccinated and 57.5 percent of suburban Cook County residents are vaxed. That helps a lot, but it’s not nearly enough.
Get your shots, people.
* Related…
* As Schools Reopen, Vaccination Rates Among Teenagers Range From One Extreme To The Other
* Texas school district makes masks part of dress code to get around Gov. Abbott’s order
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 8:46 am
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People who have the option to get a shot and refuse should have to pay cash for their COVID care, including long haul symptoms.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 8:54 am
People who work with medically compromised people who also live in a group setting should get the shots or lose their jobs.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 9:06 am
Good for the Illinois Health Care Association. SEIU Healthcare better get its act together. They are on the wrong side on this one. If they don’t get with it, they should change the name to SEIU Don’t Care.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 9:08 am
The rehabilitation facility where my SIL is attempting to recover from a stroke just went on “indefinite” lockdown with no visitors allowed. No one will say whether this is in response to an actual Covid breakout there or more just as a precaution. We know that all patients there have been fully vaccinated but have no info on the staff.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 9:18 am
For most of us, the most patriotic thing we could do is get vaccinated. Yet, many of us are failing our country in this regard.
Comment by 33rd ward Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 9:22 am
Is there something in particular about this cohort of nursing home workers to cause their Vax rates to be low?
Comment by Bothanspied Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 9:41 am
Afscme? Hello? Anything to add?
Comment by Frank talks Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 10:05 am
“just my 2 cents-People who have the option to get a shot and refuse should have to pay cash for their COVID care, including long haul symptoms”
I’m sure you are for making smokers who don’t quit pay for their own care and obese patients who refuse to eat below energy expenditure should also have to pay for their own care.
I do understand the logic as to why you think this way. Refusing treatment to smokers and obesity would be highly motivating. Straight up evil but highly motivating. Just like it would be to not care for vaccinated, it will motivate.
Comment by The Dude Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 10:28 am
== I’m sure you are for making smokers who don’t quit pay for their own care and obese patients who refuse to eat below energy expenditure should also have to pay for their own care. ==
Entirely different - refusing to get vaccinated is not an addiction or medical/psychological issue. It’s just foolishness that imperils other people’s lives.
Comment by OldSmoky2 Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 10:39 am
Actually The Dude, there’s a difference between those things.
Obesity has causes other than just a lack of desire to stop eating or not exercise. It’s a far more complex condition.
Smoking is notoriously hard to stop. People usually fail a few times before succeeding.
The shot is a simple preventative measure.
Also I would imagine insurance companies will eventually charge more to unvaccinated patients just as they currently do for smokers.
Certainly taxpayers should not be paying for the care of people who wouldn’t care for themselves (obv not including children or those who cannot medically be vaccinated.)
I’m not suggesting treatment be withheld. I am suggesting the burden of payment fall on the responsible party.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 10:40 am
Shots or a 24-hour negative test result should be mandatory for any public business or indoor gathering. The rest is noise.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 11:08 am
The only thing that will bring the pandemic to an end is employers collectively saying, enough with the nonsense - Get a shot or get a new job.
And that’s freedom baby. Your employer has the right to slap terms and conditions on your employment. You have the right to find a new job if you don’t like them.
Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 11:22 am
What is the aversion to the vaccine? In many cases these people have seen firsthand the danger of the virus. C’mon people.
Comment by SSL Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 11:30 am
President is announcing today that all nursing home employees must be vaccinated in order for that facility to receive any federal funds.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 2:21 pm
**Good for the Illinois Health Care Association.**
IHCA’s members could implement a mandate without the government doing so. Why are they waiting for the government to do it for them?
Leadership is not saying, “We’d support doing something if you made us do it.”
Comment by SaulGoodman Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 5:28 pm
Good on the Association
This is where we need to be for all our own good.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 5:55 pm
Good. And the Association should also urge AFSCME and all other state employee unions to fully support the state employee vax mandate too.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Aug 18, 21 @ 7:12 pm