Failure to Offer and Document COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were offered the COVID-19 vaccine or provided education regarding the benefits, risks, and potential side effects associated with the COVID-19 vaccine. Specifically, for four residents reviewed for immunizations, there was no documentation that they were offered or educated about the next recommended dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, despite having previously received the COVID-19 Bivalent Booster (Pfizer) in the prior year. This lack of documentation was confirmed through record review and interview with the Infection Preventionist. Facility policy required that all residents be considered eligible for COVID-19 vaccination per CDC guidelines and that ongoing updates be monitored to adjust vaccination schedules accordingly. However, the records for the four residents did not reflect any offer or education regarding the updated CDC recommendations for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. The deficiency was identified through review of vaccination records and staff interview, which confirmed the absence of required documentation.