City’s Health Department Pushing For Boosters and Vaccinations in Nursing Facilities

[UPDATED] Each of the city’s 13 skilled nursing facilities has over 70% of its residents fully-vaccinated according to an audit of the facilities.

However, the audit by the city’s health department also found the percent of residents who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster ranges widely across facilities.

“Only one facility reported over 80% of its residents with booster doses, most facilities have around 50-60% of their residents with a booster dose. The remaining five facilities with a booster rate under 40% are being contacted to discuss their progress,” according to a memo released last week.

“While PPHD would like to see high boosted rates and will continue to facilitate booster doses, there may be any number of valid medical or other reasons why residents have not received a booster yet, so PPHD will continue to collect information to help evaluate which can include ineligible for medical reasons, fully-vaccinated residents who are not yet eligible for their booster dose, or people who recently initiated their first dose and are not yet eligible for their booster,” according to the memo.

Since COVID-19 vaccines became available, the city’s health department has required long-term care facilities to provide weekly updates on vaccination and booster rates among staff and residents. In anticipation of Omicron, the city’s health department has worked after hours and over the weekend to audit vaccinations and boosters reported by facilities to compare facility self-reported information against the state immunization records system to estimate the actual, fully vaccinated and boosted rates in these facilities.

Senior nursing facilities are required by the state to provide booster doses to their residents and staff.

The city’s health department has the ability to offer a vaccination clinic on-site when absolutely necessary if other avenues for boosters are not available.

The state has contracted with pharmacies including CVS and Rite Aid to deliver booster doses in skilled nursing facilities that need assistance.

The city’s health department has confirmed that every local senior nursing facility in Pasadena has been offered this resource.

“To our knowledge, Pasadena is the only jurisdiction in the state taking this detailed approach that audits the facility’s self-report, which we believe will help us focus resources where they are needed most and ensure facilities are reporting as required,” according to the memo signed by Assistant City Manager Nick Rodriguez.