Provider Community and MDH Continue Working Toward Vaccination Goal

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 55% in all reporting care centers and 47% in all reporting assisted living settings. These numbers increased slightly in the last week, which is good to see. To reach the MDH goal of 70% staff vaccination rates, providers will need to continue encouraging vaccinations among staff.

MDH is now limiting reporting for providers who are meeting the goal rates for residents and staff, and as of the most recent report, 19% of providers were meeting the goal.

The Long-Term Care Imperative recently did a survey looking into what incentives providers are using to encourage staff vaccination. The survey found that 15% of providers are using some sort of financial incentive currently. Providers who are not using financial incentives cited several reasons for not doing so: legal concerns, ethical concerns, no need for incentives, and questioning the effectiveness at overcoming hesitancy. The top reason cited: a lack of a clear funding source. When asked what they thought would be the most effective financial incentive, providers cited bonuses to individual employees as most likely to work.

Resident vaccination rates are well above the 70% goal, with 81% of care center residents and 87% of assisted living residents fully vaccinated.

The LeadingAge Minnesota staff and resident vaccination rates match the statewide rates in the MDH report on all providers very closely. Our members have 56% care center staff and 47% assisted living staff fully vaccinated rates, and our resident vaccination rates are 82% in care centers and 88% in assisted living.

The MDH report also looks at regional differences in vaccination rates. The Twin Cities Metro area has the highest staff vaccination rates of any region, at 62% in care centers and 51% in assisted living. Meanwhile, the MDH central region, which includes St. Cloud and the Brainerd area, has the lowest rates at 43% in care centers and 35% in assisted living.