DOH Provides Clarifications Regarding When Nurses Can Administer Vaccinations in Assisted Living
The Department of Health (DOH) has just issued a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) providing important clarifications regarding options available to adult care facility (ACF) and assisted living providers for the provision of influenza and pneumococcal immunization to residents and employees. The Department had issued a DAL in April outlining changes to the ACF Equivalency List that, among other things, eliminated the long-standing equivalency to allow ACF-employed nurses to provide influenza and pneumococcal immunization to residents and employees. LeadingAge NY has been advocating for the restoration of this equivalency as a matter of public health. In our conversations with DOH, we highlighted opportunities where we thought existing law and regulation permitted nurses in these settings to provide immunizations, and we are pleased to see the Department issuing a DAL providing such important clarifications. Provider guidance for immunization administration is located here.
The DAL also offers other community resources for those ACFs and assisted living providers that might not meet the conditions within the DAL or would prefer not to perform the immunizations using their own staff.
The DAL reminds ACFs of their requirements to arrange for and document residents’ and staff members' vaccination against influenza and pneumonia. Immunization against influenza and documentation thereof must occur no later than Nov. 30th of each year. The DAL also reminds providers of their responsibility to report outbreaks to local health departments. Click here for a DAL issued last year, which details ACF responsibilities in the “All Settings” and “Influenza Outbreaks in Community or Other Facility Settings” guidance sections.
Facilities having difficulty locating a source for flu and pneumonia vaccinations may contact the DOH Bureau of Immunization at 518-473-4437 or immunize@health.ny.gov, or their regional home care office as applicable. Questions regarding this DAL can be directed to DOH at 518-408-1133 or acfinfo@health.ny.gov.
LeadingAge NY will continue to work to enable ACF nurses to once again perform influenza and pneumococcal immunizations for their residents and employees and will keep members apprised of our progress.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828