In facilities like ours, we have a number of immunocompromised individuals. Some have had no protective antibody response to the vaccine. Even so, we might feel safe and remain unmasked because we have herd immunity–virtually 100% of the residents have received the two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
But wait! Are we really safe. 20% of our staff goes out into the community daily, unimmunized by choice, and exposed to the rapidly spreading delta COVID variant. All staff are masked to be sure. But these are not N-95 masks and the staff often works close to us in various venues. Waiting for a positive COVID test or symptoms is not a useful strategy here.
We’ve tried education and hesitancy support–but this is a continuing public health crisis! Many universities and businesses are instituting vaccine mandates. Many hospitals and nursing homes are also.
It’s time for all staff to be vaccinated unless there is a medical contraindication. This is not a political issue! Let’s value and protect our most vulnerable.
I totally agree. Unless there is an extenuating circumstance people should be vaccinated. Considering that with all the people who have taken the vaccine, here and around the world, we have not heard of any deleterious effect. Surely by now if the vaccine had a downside we would have that data. To the contrary, what we see is unvaccinated people getting sick and spreading the mutations.
I agree.
I very heartily agree. I don’t know why anti-vaxxers need to be coddled. I don’t know why the management allows the unvaccinated to work here.
Thank you for speaking out on this subject. I agree entirely and ask other residents to express their opinions. I believe we are at more risk than we were six months ago.
I totally agree. The risk is just too great to some of our frail and not so frail residents. The residents vaccinations were handled so well. I think we could do the same for our employees. Mandates make a lot of sense.
I fully support the idea of EVERY ONE being vaccinated at Skyline, ie residents AND STAFF. We are in a BIG TIME public health crisis again with Delta and Lambda variants even more aggressive. Yes, 100 % of residents are vaccinated, but there are note able ‘break through’ infections for those already vaccinated. Most all of us won’t go to a hospital if this happens to us, and likely will have a moderate or even no symptomatic response, BUT there are some at Skyline who do have autoimmune conditions who would be vulnerable.
I do not see this as an issue of personal ‘rights’ nor should it be determined by political preferences. It IS ABOUT SUPPORT OF OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY AND THE WEAKEST AMONG US. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILTY TO CONSIDER THIS IN -HOUSE MANDATE. Linda Wolf
Agree.