Up-To-Date Vaccination Status

Dear teammates,

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently updated language related to COVID-19 vaccination status.  The term “fully vaccinated” was eliminated and replaced it with “Up-to-Date”. “Up-to-Date” is defined as a person who has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) if and when eligible. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also issued new requirements for all individuals who work in or have frequent exposure to skilled nursing facilities to be “Up-to-Date” with COVID vaccinations or be routinely tested for COVID.

According to the above definition, persons who are not “Up-to-Date” are now required to be tested for COVID weekly when infection rates in the community are moderate and twice per week when levels are substantial (reference table below). The Dallas County transmission rate is currently moderate.

Routine Testing Intervals by County COVID-19 Level of Community Transmission

Level of COVID-19 Community TransmissionMinimum Testing Requency of Staff
Low (blue)Not recommended
Moderate (yellow)Once a week*
Substantial (orange)Twice a week*
High (red)Twice a week*

*Up-to-Date staff do not need to be routinely tested.

*This frequency presumes availability of Point of Care testing on-site at the nursing home or where off-site testing turnaround time is <48 hours.

The objective is for all teammates working in Skilled Nursing or Assisted Living to be “Up-to-Date” with COVID vaccinations.

Click here to register for the next COVID-19 Booster Clinic scheduled for Wednesday, March 30. The first 50 teammates who sign up and receive the vaccination at this clinic will receive a $50 gift card. If you have questions regarding this new guidance, please contact me at KimCook@forefrontliving.org or 214-413-1566.

Sincerely,

Kim Cook
Corporate Director of Health Services