Failure to Offer and Timely Administer COVID-19 Vaccinations
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly offer and document COVID-19 vaccinations for two out of five residents reviewed for immunizations. For one resident, the clinical record showed a consent form with a refusal box checked and handwritten notes indicating the family was deciding, but there was no signature or date from the resident or responsible party. The LPN responsible acknowledged that after an initial note stating 'awaiting family consent,' no further attempts were made to follow up with the family, and there was no documentation of any conversation or outreach to obtain consent or declination. This resulted in the resident or responsible party not being given a clear opportunity to accept or refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. For another resident, the family member had provided verbal consent for the COVID-19 vaccine, but the vaccine was not administered until approximately two and a half months later. The LPN could not provide a reason for this delay or any documentation explaining why the vaccine was not given in a timely manner. The facility's policy required that residents or responsible parties be offered the vaccine according to CDC guidance and that refusals and re-offers be documented, but these procedures were not followed for the two residents in question.