Failure to Document COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Offer to Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide education and offer the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to eligible staff members in accordance with CDC recommendations and its own policy. Specifically, a review of staff medical records for four staff members revealed no documentation that these individuals were assessed for vaccine eligibility, provided with education about the updated COVID-19 vaccine, or offered the vaccine with proof of acceptance or declination. The facility's policy requires all staff to be up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations as recommended by the CDC, which includes receiving the 2024-2025 vaccine. Interviews with the Director of Nurses and the Administrator confirmed that there was no documentation or proof that staff had been educated about or offered the new COVID-19 vaccine. The Director of Nurses stated that the facility did not have a consent or declination form for staff and was unaware that such documentation was required. The Administrator acknowledged that while the vaccine is offered upon hire and when new boosters are available, there were no documents in place to prove that vaccine education or offers had been made to staff at the time of the survey.