I am guessing this topic has come up and I did find something in November, but we are further along now.
My 90 yo mother lives in an independent living facility which is attached to an assisted living and memory care. She got her first COVID vaccine does yesterday, I think her IL facility got in on an early wave as it was part of the assisted living, I don't know. Nonetheless, I was happy as I had been calling her doctor and it seem parents of my friends who live on their own are not getting information on when they as octogerians can get it.
Anyway, my mom, a religious person herself said other religious residents are choosing not to get the vaccine. I in part respect their reasons, but would think when you enter a facility like that, you know you are giving up many of your rights and it should be required. I live in an HOA and there are many rules imposed on me that I would otherwise not like.
If you don't like it, you can find other living arrangements or maybe there are other senior facilities who cater to people like that.
As is, there is a very sweet lady living right across the hall from my mom who is very good to my mom, but she is deciding not get vaccine. I guess I am a bit concerned, as even though my mom got it, I think the more the better, especially in senior living.
If there is a thread on this you can refer me to it, otherwise, are vaccines required at many such facilities? I am for freedom of the individual, but if a private facility makes such requirements, you as a private individual are free not to live there.
At this point I consider it somewhat Darwinian. I just heard yesterday that France has at least FIFTY PERCENT of its populace refusing vaccine. That is more than likely the 50% that will be more likely to die of Covid-19. As I said, Darwinian. Adapt, learn, or..................................
Your mother is free not to live at the IL if she (Or you) doesn’t like the rules either. It goes both ways you know. And assisted livings have been in the first groups to get the vaccine across the country.
As others said, the vaccine is no magic bullet. But it does reduce risk, and to the degree everyone in a faciliity takes it risk is reduced more, IMHO. But that is not even the real question
The issue is whether the vaccine is great or not, should facilities be allowed to either require it or not require it, then let residents choose what they want to do based on facilitys rules
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, individuals have the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of religion. As part of their religious beliefs, many individuals object to vaccines and cannot be forced to get them.
Has she had a Shingles shot?
Has she had other vaccinations during her life?
this is just another in a series of vaccinations.
If she chooses not to have a vaccination the facility has the right to ask her to find another IL facility. I bet it would be difficult to find one that would accept someone that refuses to get the vaccination.
there is what is called Herd Immunity and if the majority of people in the facility have the vaccination she would be "safe" IF she remains within the community but if she leaves for an outing, to go to the doctor, to get her hair done, to go to lunch with you she places herself as well as others in the community at risk.
Yes people have the right to refuse the vaccination, they have the right to refuse medical care but the facility also has a duty to protect others in the community. And there are some that can not get the vaccine due to other medical conditions and they are more at risk.
That said, I also don't see what difference it makes if your mother gets the vaccine and her neighbor does not. If the vaccine works, then your mother is 'immune' from getting the virus, but her neighbor is not, right? So, all you have to be concerned with is your mother's immunity. Unless 85% or so of the entire country gets the vaccine, which is highly unlikely unless the government forces us to in order to go grocery shopping, then 'herd immunity' isn't going to happen ANYWAY.
My mother is 94 and lives in Memory Care Assisted Living. She will be vaccinated on the 22nd. She and all the others were, of course, given the option to get the vaccine or to decline it. I agreed to it, as her POA, and signed the papers. Hopefully she won't have a bad reaction to it and require medical attention. She may still get Covid19, as many who are vaccinated DO, but get milder symptoms. Or she may not get it at all, as none of the 123 residents in the entire ALF have, to date. There are no guarantees with ANY of this mess, that's for sure.
In the same way, it is the right of a private senior facility to impose the rules it wants. If people dont like the rules, they cannot be compelled to get vaccine, but facility can also have them leave.
Freedom of the individual apples to our legal system. Someone should nto hae to face legal action if they refuse a vaccine. But another private party, ie a senior living facility, also has the right to impose the rules it wants.
Important thing is that those of us who wish to be protected and wish to have our seniors protected do so. I have given up on others, but I will push folks out of line to be 1st to get mine! I have an appt for 28th along with my partner and can't wait!
Me, I don't think its been tested long enough. I will wait.
Numbers of people who have died after getting the vaccine has to be put into context. 23 have died in Norway quotes one post, out of how many administered- 2300, 23,000, 230,000? And what underlying medical conditions did they have? How old were they? What are the specifics? According to the Sun, a UK publication, "The Norwegian Medicine Agency confirms the number of incidents so far is not alarming, and in line with expectations” and “Earlier this week, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said that any side effects of the vaccine will be outweighed by a reduced risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid for elderly people.”
The USA's EEOC has ruled that employers may indeed require the vaccine as a condition of employment with few exceptions. Why wouldn't it also apply to care facilities?
There are already over 2 million deaths from the disease worldwide. None of them had the choice of receiving the vaccine. I'm sure they would have loved to have that choice.
It is the individuals right to choose to have the vaccination or not.
Residents in skilled nursing that have few, if any visitors and never leave the facility are relatively safe.
Residents in Memory Care also have few visitors.
Residents in IL and Al have more contact with people but are also more able to take precautions make an informed decision as to having the vaccine or not.
Anyone that has a medical or religious reason for abstaining from the vaccine is within their right not to have it.
I stated that a facility may require the resident to be vaccinated or ask them to leave but they really can not do that. ALL facilities that are licensed would have to allow residents to make the choice to be vaccinated or not.
If I were still caring for my Husband it would be my right to require anyone that came into the house to care for him be vaccinated.
So I guess I am retracting my previous stance on this.
Nothing like sitting on a fence in a storm!
I haven't questioned this but I wonder if facilities could be more forceful with residents who choose not to be vaccinated and stricter quarantine for them. Nobody in this facility is going anywhere except maybe outside. I think you just ask that question of them. If all staff gets vaccinated and and a majority of residents then I guess eventually there is not as much concern.