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NYSDOH DAL COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Doses

The New York State Department of Health (“Department”) continues to recognize COVID-19 as an ongoing threat to the health of long-term care facility residents and staff. The purpose of this letter is to remind all Article 28 general hospitals of the Department’s requirement that hospitals offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all patients who are medically eligible and consent to vaccination before discharging the patient to a nursing home or other long-term care facility, i.e., an adult care facility (ACF) including an assisted living residence.

To ensure long-term care facility residents are vaccinated before discharge from a hospital, hospitals must offer and administer COVID-19 vaccination to all patients who are eligible and consent to vaccination before discharge to a long-term care facility. Further, hospitals should provide clear documentation to receiving nursing homes and ACFs of the patient’s vaccination status as applicable, including but not limited to, the specific vaccine administered, the date administered, whether a second dose needs to be administered by the nursing home or ACF, and time frame for the second dose or booster dose. Please clearly communicate this requirement to all staff who are administering or distributing vaccines and to discharge planners who may be working on securing long-term care facility placement.

Be advised that all long-term care facilities are expected to exercise diligence, act proactively and document efforts to ensure all residents and staff who are eligible and consent to vaccination remain up to date with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including all CDC recommended updated (bivalent) booster doses. Nursing homes and ACFs are reminded that the Department continues to endorse CDC recommendations that everyone stay up to date with all CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including all primary series doses and booster doses when eligible. See attached DAL.

NYSHFA/NYSCAL CONTACTS:

Lisa Volk, RN, B.P.S., LNHA
Director, Clinical & Quality Services
518-462-4800 x15

Jackie Pappalardi, RN, BSN
Executive Director
518-462-4800 x16