COVID Mandates for Healthcare and Home Care Workers 

Philadelphia senior citizens and residents of other age cohorts will be happy to learn the city has achieved a comparably high vaccination rate for healthcare industry workers. Government officials at the federal level highlight Philadelphia’s vaccine mandate for its elevated vaccination rate. The high rate of vaccination among the city’s medical industry personnel is especially important now that the highly contagious Omicron variant of the virus is rearing its ugly head.

About Philadelphia’s Vaccination Mandate

The city of Philadelphia issued a coronavirus vaccine mandate as the summer drew to a close. The mandate has lead to nearly every single hospital employee in the greater Philadelphia area being fully vaccinated against coronavirus. Furthermore, the city’s health department reports more than 95% of the city’s nursing home employees are fully vaccinated against the virus. This statistic is especially striking when juxtaposed with the comparably low 75% vaccination rate of nursing home employees throughout the rest of the country. 

However, it must be noted the definition of “fully vaccinated” has the potential to change as time progresses. It is quite possible only those who receive a booster shot will be considered fully vaccinated by the time winter comes to an end. At the moment, more than 75% of all Philadelphia residents are fully vaccinated, meaning they have at least two vaccine shots. Though this percentage is lower than that of those who work in local hospitals and nursing homes, it is still an encouraging sign. 

Why Philadelphia’s Vaccine Mandate is so Important

Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s highest rates of hospitalization stemming from coronavirus infections. The state’s intensive-care units are struggling to provide care for individuals who require intubation and other forms of assistance. Sadly, nearly 400 individuals were hospitalized in early December in Philadelphia alone. Phila.com’s city data shows the city’s hospitalization trend is moving in the wrong direction as a mere 200 were hospitalized within the city’s limits prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Philadelphia’s high vaccination rate is the elevated employee retention rate. The vast majority of local Philadelphia hospitals and nursing homes retained nearly the entirety of their staff despite the vaccine mandate. The Pennsylvania Health Care Association reports that of the city’s 47 nursing homes, an average of seven individuals departed their posts as a result of the vaccine mandate. 

It is clear that Philadelphians are willing to put their self-interest and political differences aside for the greater good. However, it is slightly disturbing to learn that merely 40% of the hospitals in the United States have vaccine requirements. This low nationwide percentage is a large part of the reason why transmission rates are climbing with no signs of slowing down as the Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc throughout Philadelphia and beyond.

AmeriBest Home Care Philadelphia is a Call Away

AmeriBest’s home care team is here to help you and your loved ones live with dignity. If you or a family member need or want home care assistance and you live in the greater Philadelphia area, reach out to us for more information about our service. You can contact our home care team by phone at 1-800-HOMECARE. You can also contact us by email at info@ameribest.org or online through our convenient contact form.

COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know

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When it comes to the subject of COVID-19 vaccines, there are plenty of mistruths, and even some bald-faced lies. If you don’t invest your time learning about the vaccines used to combat the coronavirus, you will end up underinformed or misinformed. It is time to separate fact from fiction.

COVID-19 Vaccines Are Worthy of Your Trust

There is a common misconception that vaccines developed to stop the spread of coronavirus are unsafe as they were rushed. Though the global scientific community certainly ramped up their efforts to develop vaccines as quickly as possible, this does not mean the end results are in any way unsafe. The bottom line is the world’s top scientists did not take shortcuts when developing coronavirus vaccines.

Though this is the first time messenger RNA or MRNA for short, is being used for a vaccine the general public will receive, this strategy has been carefully developed across the prior three decades with patient safety squarely in mind. So don’t believe those who insist the rush to create vaccines makes them inherently unsafe.

Those Who Have Already Contracted the Virus Should Still Take the Vaccine

It is quite possible natural immunity to the virus lasts a couple of weeks, a full month, several months, or even longer. However, our top scientists are unsure as to exactly how long natural immunity lasts. Sadly, it appears as though it is becoming increasingly common for people to contract the virus several times over. Medical experts in Philadelphia and beyond insist even those who have contracted the virus should still receive the vaccine to ensure they are fully protected.

AmeriBest Home Care - COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know

Masks and Social Distancing Must Continue After Receiving the Vaccine

One of the most pervasive myths about the vaccines being dispersed across the world is their implementation eliminates the need to continue social distancing and mask-wearing. The medical community is adamant that everyone who receives the vaccine should continue wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing their hands with regularity, and proceeding with caution.

Receiving the initial vaccine shot does not immediately make someone immune to coronavirus. It takes upwards of an entire week to 10 days for the human body to start developing antibodies. These antibodies gradually increase across the weeks to come, meaning masks and social distancing will be the norm in Philadelphia and elsewhere until herd immunity is achieved through the widespread dispersal of the vaccine.

Comprehensive Expert Reviews Indicate the Vaccines Are Safe

Though the Russian vaccine administered to its populace did not undergo a thorough review to ensure safety and efficacy, the vaccines provided to those in the United States have undergone comprehensive analysis. The experts who have studied these vaccines insist they are completely safe. As an example, nearly 44,000 people enrolled in Pfizer’s clinical vaccine trial. The results of the trial were studied in-depth by medical experts who concluded the Pfizer vaccine is safe.

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AmeriBest Home Care Philadelphia Is Here to Help During This Trying Time

Do you have a family member or friend in the greater Philadelphia area who could benefit from home care assistance? AmeriBest Home Care is available to help your loved one or friend enjoy a dignified and comfortable life. Reach out to AmeriBest Home Care today at (215) 925-3313 to learn more about our services and coordinate home care.