More US States Mandate Booster Shots For Long-Term Care Centers

Skilled Nursing Facility

New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut are the new US states that put coronavirus booster requirements in place for long-term care facility workers. For the uninitiated, the term long-term care (LTC) refers to an array of locations that offer care for the elderly, including assisted living facilities. It means that the mandate applies to not just assisted living residences but also other LTC facilities.

On January 06, 2022, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont approved the two ordinances that mandate booster vaccine shots for not only long-term care facility workers but also state hospital staffers. For the uninitiated, the term booster refers to an extra vaccine dose administered when the protection from the first shots starts decreasing over time.

The facilities that fail to comply with the mandate could face a maximum of $20,000 as daily civil penalties. Do you work at a state hospital, skilled nursing facility, or another long-term care facility? If so, be sure to be boosted by February 11, 2022, to ensure that you do not lose your job due to a lack of compliance with the ordinance.

An emergency ordinance from Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker necessitates nursing home and assisted living staffers to get their coronavirus booster shots on or before February 28, 2022, according to a Boston Globe report.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul required every healthcare worker to get coronavirus vaccination on or before August 26 last year. Now, Hochul also announced state plans to necessitate those workers to get a coronavirus booster dose in 14 days of becoming qualified. The emergency measure applies to adult care facility staffers, including those who work at assisted living service centers. The three US states join New Mexico and California in making booster shots mandatory.

On the other hand, New Mexico also issued a coronavirus booster ordinance in December 2021 for people who work in environments with a higher possibility of developing the disease. They include workers in congregate care environments and other New Mexico-based healthcare settings. The state ordinance requires every covered worker to take a booster vaccine shot against coronavirus by January 17, 2022, or within a month of gaining eligibility.

In December 2021, California made it mandatory for everyone who works in congregate environments with a high risk for coronavirus disease and other health settings to receive a booster vaccine shot by February 01, 2022.