CANTON, N.C. (WLOS) – LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES CONTINUE DEALING WITH COVID OUTBREAKS AND A VACCINE MANDATE COULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP BATTLE THE DEADLY DISEASE. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports that while the vaccination rates vary from facility to facility in the mountains, for nursing home residents it is often higher than that of staff. The average vaccination rate for nursing home staff in N.C. is below the national average, according to the report. While the expected federal mandate could improve those numbers, officials say the catch 22 is that it could instead contribute to the ongoing staffing shortage.
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