A giant impediment, although, continues to be resistance to vaccination amongst nurses and aides. Like many facility homeowners, Avalon Well being Care Group, which owns or operates greater than a dozen nursing properties in western states, is just not mandating employees be vaccinated. Dr. Sabine von Preyss-Friedman, Avalon’s chief medical officer, says she tries to handle the explanations with every employee and gained’t abandon the push.
“We’re not going to only say, ‘OK, everybody get vaccinated,’ after which overlook about it,” she mentioned.
Avalon’s properties have used modest monetary incentives to encourage employees members to get vaccinated. Some have organized contests between completely different items, with the winner getting prizes like a pizza get together or a drawing for a present certificates from a division retailer, and people efforts will resume this yr.
Jim Wright, the medical director of Our Woman of Hope Well being Middle and two different nursing properties in Richmond, Va., mentioned that rewards and respectful persuasion weren’t sufficient to sway his properties’ workers. They are typically of their 20s and 30s, he mentioned, and aren’t apprehensive about catching Covid, which many have already weathered.
“They more than likely is not going to do it to guard the residents or defend themselves,” he mentioned. “I don’t know what the reply is.”
Sheena Bumpas, a nursing assistant in Duncan, Okla., and vice chair of the Nationwide Affiliation of Well being Care Assistants, deliberate to get this season’s shot, however mentioned a few of her colleagues wouldn’t.
