PLANO, Texas — Some experts are calling for tighter COVID-19 vaccination requirements in Texas nursing homes and care facilities as cases rise again with the surging delta variant.
According to data from Texas Health and Human Services, case counts in nursing homes and the number of facilities reporting cases has been on a significant uptick since July. The increase comes after those numbers had nearly tapered off completely in recent months.
Leaders with AARP expressed concern over the increase, after those same facilities already accounted for some of the largest relative case and death counts throughout previous stages of the pandemic.
“It’s no doubt that nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities really have borne the brunt,” said AARP of Texas Outreach Director Amanda Fredriksen.
Fredriksen said the situation is particularly concerning due to vaccination rates inside the facilities, which she said aren’t yet meeting the standards advocates would like to see.
Data reported on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website shows Texas ranks 46th in the nation for nursing home resident vaccinations, with about 77% of residents being fully vaccinated. The organization also ranks the state 38th nationwide for nursing home staff vaccinations, with just over half of staff in the state hitting that mark.
“One in five Texas nursing homes has 75% of their staff vaccinated, that means four in five don’t,” said Fredriksen.
The numbers are concerning for the advocacy organization, but also for residents and staff in those already stressed facilities.
“We’ve already been up this mountain and we were coming out of it. Everything was headed in the right direction. Why are we gonna have to climb this mountain again,” said Brandon Roach.
Roach has served as a facilities manager for a DFW area nursing home throughout the pandemic and recently left to start a new job with another care facility. During his time between jobs, he reflected on the experience of the past year and a half, one that he likened to a slow-motion war.
Throughout much of the pandemic, Roach, his fellow staff and residents at his nursing home had been essentially locked down as they tried to keep the virus out and away from the most vulnerable. In recent months, the state has eased COVID regulations and again allowed some visitation in those facilities, but Roach said it still felt quite isolated inside. However, he said despite their best efforts, they couldn’t stop the illness completely.
“We were successful for about three months [keeping the virus out] after the official lock down,” said Roach, “And then it only takes one case.”
As COVID spread in the community, Roach said it did get to his staff and residents as well. He saw cases inside and he saw deaths.
According to state data, more than 70,000 cases have been reported in care facilities since the beginning of the pandemic and there have been more than 9,000 deaths in that population as a result. Roach said even in a facility where they see deaths regularly, he couldn’t help but take the COVID ones a bit harder.
“The emotion and the remorse and maybe the feelings of guilt for being involved in this and maybe feel like you’re the cause of someone else dying,” he said.
As he starts his new job, he fears that delta variant will just bring a return to those worst days of the pandemic.
“We’re only gonna get our freedom when we get over this,” said Roach.
The AARP is calling for required COVID-19 vaccinations for both care facility staff and residents, though it’s unclear if such measures will be considered by state leaders.