Vaccination Rates Continue to Lag Goal for Long-Term Care Staff

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

LeadingAge Minnesota has pulled together recent data on vaccination rates for long-term care staff in Minnesota and the general population in Minnesota and nationwide.

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update on long-term care vaccination, staff rates for full vaccination were 59% in all reporting care centers and 50% in all reporting assisted living settings. These numbers both increased 1% from the previous week. To reach the MDH goal of a 70% staff vaccination rate, providers will need to continue encouraging vaccinations among staff. MDH is now limiting reporting for providers meeting the 70% goal rate for residents and staff. As of the most recent report, 26% of providers are meeting the goal.

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 66% in care centers and 54% in assisted living. Meanwhile, the MDH central region, which includes St. Cloud and the Brainerd area, has the lowest rates at 45% in care centers and 38% in assisted living.

The general population vaccination rate in Minnesota is above the national average, with 31% of those 16 and older fully vaccinated compared to 28% nationally. Those numbers should both grow substantially in the coming weeks as vaccination is freely available to the general public.

COVID-19 test positivity rates remain relatively high in Minnesota compared to the first part of this year, despite the rise in vaccination rates. For nursing homes in counties that are in red or yellow status, they have to test all staff once or twice a week. Recent CMS policy exempts fully vaccinated staff from that testing, which may be an incentive to get vaccinated for those who have declined so far.