The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides daily updates and guidance related to COVID-19 and vaccinations. We are highlighting a few below:
- COVID-19 Vaccination Trainings for new and experienced providers The training modules include how to prepare vaccines, vaccine administration, storage and handling, safety and monitoring, documentation, preventing administration errors and program requirements.
- Tips for Talking with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination. As a trusted source of health information and healing, your approach to a conversation with patients and families who are hesitant about receiving COVID-19 vaccines can influence their willingness to consider vaccination. Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based and culturally sensitive way to speak with unvaccinated patients about getting vaccinated. The goal is to help people manage mixed feelings and move toward healthy behavior change that is consistent with their values and needs. This site outlines four steps to apply motivational interviewing rapidly (1–5 minutes) during a patient visit. Great Plains QIN offered a Webinar on this topic in August; access the recording.
- Updated Guidelines on Quarantine and Isolation offers guidance and calculations on how to determine when to stay home, isolate and quarantine.
- To help rural communities increase vaccination rates, access the Rural Considerations for Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Strategies. State and local health departments, community and faith-based organizations and local nonprofits are encouraged to try a combination of these strategies which are based on successes in the field shared by health departments and rural health organizations.
- Access the COVID-19 Daily COVID Tracker Weekly Review for reported cases, daily trends, vaccinations, hospitalizations and deaths.
Great Plains QIN was enlisted by CMS to help increase COVID-19, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates in North Dakota and South Dakota. We believe if we work together to coordinate messages, share resources and offer joint learning opportunities, we can collectively combat vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine confidence in our nursing homes and the community at large. Visit our COVID-19 page for education, resources and tools on vaccine administration, safety and tracking related to COVID-19.