AARP calls on Florida nursing homes to require vaccination for staff and residents

Florida tops the nation in percent of nursing homes reporting new staff cases of COVID-19

From Staff Reports

On Wednesday, the AARP released a statement about the urgent need to require vaccination for staff and residents in Florida nursing homes.

“After more than a year of monitoring data through the AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard, our latest report shows that Florida leads the nation in the percent of nursing home staff with new cases of coronavirus," AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson said.

The increase in staff cases is not surprising, but deeply concerning, given the rise of new variants and the fact that Florida still has the second-lowest staff vaccination rate in the nation.

“These facilities cannot let preventable problems be repeated," said Johnson. "The low levels of staff vaccination create an unacceptable level of risk since the disease spreads so easily in these environments. More than 11,500 people have already died in Florida’s long-term care system since the start of the pandemic, roughly 31 percent of the state’s total fatalities."

In the statement, AARP is calling on nursing homes to act immediately to ensure that vaccination requirements are in place for staff and residents of every facility, including requiring vaccines for newly-admitted residents.

"Life-saving vaccines are free and will protect your staff, your residents, and your community against COVID-19. The key is to require vaccinations and do it now to protect Florida’s nursing home residents and healthcare workers."

Nationally, the Associated Press reported that President Joe Biden is requiring nursing home staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding. Biden announced the new policy in a Wednesday afternoon speech.

Mark Parkinson, the president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, praised the Biden decision but called on him to go further.

“Vaccination mandates for health care personnel should be applied to all health care settings,” he said. “Without this, nursing homes face a disastrous workforce challenge.”

Check out the up-to-date vaccine resources at www.aarp.org/flvaccine.

To find a vaccine in your area, visit the Florida Department of Health’s Vaccine Locator.

If you or a loved one are homebound, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs will meet you at home for vaccination.

For older Floridians who need assistance, call 1-800-96-ELDER, to schedule your shot.

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability, and personal fulfillment. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org.