New AARP Analysis Shows Nursing Home Vaccination Rates in Kansas Still Well Short of Benchmark

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Topeka, KS – Cases of COVID rose significantly among Kansas nursing home staff and residents over the four weeks ending July 18, according to the latest release of AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard.

The increases are concerning given the rise of new variants, the gaps in vaccinations among those in nursing homes, and the disproportionate numbers of deaths due to COVID-19 and high risk in nursing homes throughout the pandemic. As of June 30, 2021, 1,994 residents and staff of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Kansas have died from COVID-19 – representing around 39% of deaths, even though less than 1% of the population lives in these facilities.

While vaccination rates had increased several percentage points in the past month, they remain low compared to goals, at around 86.5% among residents and 56% among staff. Only 14.4% of Kansas nursing homes had at least 75% of staff vaccinated, which is the benchmark goal the industry has set for vaccinations in facilities.

“The high COVID death rates of residents and staff in nursing homes has been a national disgrace. As the new variants are emerging, facilities cannot let preventable problems be repeated. The key is to increase vaccinations, and do it now,” said Ernest Kutzley, AARP Kansas Advocacy Director.

“AARP is calling on nursing homes to require vaccinations for both staff and residents.  The low levels of staff vaccinations in particular create an unacceptable level of risk, since the disease spreads so easily in these environments. And facilities must ensure all residents are vaccinated, including providing vaccines to newly admitted residents. Facilities must be open and transparent with how they are progressing toward the vital goal of vaccination for all staff and residents.”

The AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard analyzes federally reported data in four-week periods going back to June 1, 2020. Using this data, the AARP Public Policy Institute, in collaboration with the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Ohio, created the dashboard to provide snapshots of the virus’ infiltration into nursing homes and impact on nursing home residents and staff, with the goal of identifying specific areas of concern at the national and state levels in a timely manner.

AARP is providing information and resources about COVID-19 to help older Kansans and has developed key questions for families to ask if a loved one is in a nursing home. For more information on how COVID is impacting nursing homes and AARP’s advocacy on this issue, visit www.aarp.org/nursinghomes

The full Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard is available at http://www.aarp.org/nursinghomedashboard.