Vaccination Rates Moving Slowly Toward Goal for LTC Staff

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

The most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update on long-term care vaccination shows slow progress toward the goal rates continuing for staff, while resident rates remain outstanding.

Staff rates for full vaccination were 66% in all reporting care centers and 62% in all reporting assisted living settings, up 5% for care centers and 3% for AL from a month ago. The MDH goal is a 70% staff vaccination rate, which is now within reach, particularly for care centers. Providers nationwide are now looking into boosting these rates through mandates since efforts to increase rates under a voluntary system have produced slow increases.

The MDH report also looks at regional differences in vaccination rates which show a lot of variation. The Twin Cities Metro area has the highest staff vaccination rates of any region, at 76% in care centers and 69% in assisted living. Meanwhile, the MDH central region, which includes St. Cloud and the Brainerd area, has the lowest rate for AL at 46%, and the northwest Minnesota region has a rate of only 48% in care centers.

Resident vaccination rates remain excellent, at 90% fully vaccinated in care centers and 94% fully vaccinated in assisted living. The general population's vaccination rate in Minnesota is rising toward the 70% goal, with 68% of those 16 and older and 91% of those 65 and older having received at least one vaccine dose.