The Baker-Polito Administration today announced plans to require COVID-19 vaccination for all staff at rest homes, assisted living residences (ALRs), hospice programs, as well as for home care workers (HCWs) providing in-home, direct care services. The plan to expand the vaccine requirement for caregivers is subject to Public Health Council (PHC) approval and is part of the Administration’s continued effort to protect older adults against COVID-19. Last month, the Administration announced a vaccine requirement for employees of skilled nursing facilities. Following PHC approval, the requirement would be implemented through the respective DPH and EOEA regulations that would cover 62 freestanding Rest Homes and 268 Assisted Living Residences in Massachusetts, 85 hospice programs and up to 100,000 Home Care Workers across the Commonwealth, subject to regulatory requirement.
