New policies for nursing home staff who opt out of vaccine

The New York Department of Health on Thursday set a new policy for nursing homes whose staff do not wish to be vaccinated for COVID-19 after finding that as many as half of such employees have declined to be vaccinated, according to a department memo.

Under the new policy, workers who refuse the vaccine must sign a waiver.

According to a statement issued by the department, nursing home operators “have known all along that a COVID vaccine is one of the best ways to protect residents and staff from this dangerous virus. Inexplicably, numerous nursing homes are letting vaccine doses sit on shelves, and that’s why DOH recently enacted emergency regulations requiring nursing homes to offer all consenting, unvaccinated, existing ​and new personnel and residents an opportunity to get vaccinated.”

Nursing homes found to be out of compliance with the waiver requirement may be fined up to $2,000 per violation, according to the department.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.