Complete Story
03/10/2022
[Duplicate] You Asked... We Answered 2/10/22
You Asked:
After the phase 2 deadline of March 15, 2022, do new hires need to have their vaccination series completed before providing care or can just be starting?
We Answered:
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has confirmed that a new hire needs to have received the first dose of a two-dose vaccine before providing care. Additional clarification can be found in the Long-Term Care Survey Pathway, which states:
All staff (except pending or granted requests for exemptions/temporarily delayed) must have received, at a minimum, one dose of COVID-19 vaccine prior to providing care/treatment/services for the facility and/or its residents.
CMS has also provided an FAQ document which includes the following Q&A:
Q: Will there be different requirements for existing staff versus new staff?
- No. Staff at all health care facilities included within the regulation must have received, at a minimum, the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine by the regulatory deadline, or prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services for the facility and/or its patients.
ODH further notes that new hires need to be treated like someone with an approved exemption and should also follow the facility specific additional accommodations as outlined in the facility vaccination policy. Additional details can be found in the guidance for the interim final rule. The survey pathways can be found on the CMS Nursing Home webpage, under the download section, and within the zip file called “LTC Survey Pathways.” We encourage members to continue to submit questions to COVID19@leadingageohio.org.