long-term care

As of Friday, long-term care facilities were linked to about 35 percent of the 28,565 deaths of Floridians from COVID-19, according to a report released by the state Department of Health.

About 90% of assisted living facilities in Florida have self-reported having a chance to have their staff and residents vaccinated, leaving 10% still waiting for the opportunity.

While many residents agree to get vaccinated, an overwhelming number of employees at those facilities are not getting the shots.

According to reports, the chief executive of a West Palm Beach long-term care facility offered COVID-19 vaccinations to board members and donors.

State data show that the vast majority of the deaths involve residents of nursing homes and ALFs, with one facility in Miami-Dade accounting for 70 resident deaths and another for 56.

The plan is for the pharmacy to eventually visit 35,000 facilities and vaccinate 3 million residents. CVS and other companies are also part of the partnership to deliver shots at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Long-term care residents’ participation in the vaccination effort is clouded by a significant complication: More than half have cognitive impairment or dementia.

About 40 percent of the COVID-19 deaths in Florida during the pandemic have been linked to long-term care facilities, according to state data.

For-profit nursing homes say the coronavirus has left them almost broke and needing financial help from the government. But critics say their business model is the problem.

The federal government is offering nursing homes the chance to opt in to the new program, in which pharmacy staff would deliver and administer a future vaccine on site.