Two months after vaccinations began, COVID-19 deaths and cases plunge at NJ nursing homes

The number of COVID-19 cases in New Jersey nursing homes has plunged by 90% and deaths have dropped by 50% since the vaccination campaign began two months ago, federal data shows.

The sharp decline in New Jersey is in line with a national trend that experts say shows not only how effective the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be in crushing the virus, but how important it was to prioritize nursing home residents at the beginning of the vaccine rollout. 

"That decision absolutely saved lives," said Alison Kris, a Fairfield University professor who focuses on nursing home care. "The vaccine has been an incredible success in nursing homes."

In New Jersey, cases have plummeted from 13.7 positive cases per 1,000 residents in late December, when the vaccination campaign began, to 1.5 per 1,000 by late February, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Deaths peaked in the virus's second wave at 3.49 per 1,000 residents per week in mid-January and have since been halved.

State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Wednesday that the drop in deaths was even greater, at 96%. She attributed the declines not only to vaccinations but to the drop in COVID cases across the state.

COVID-19 cases among staff in New Jersey nursing homes likewise have dropped by 84%, according to the CDC, even though a majority of nursing home staff nationwide refused to get a shot at the beginning of the rollout.

The state Health Department has not released information on the percentage of staffers or residents at New Jersey's nursing homes who have been vaccinated. NorthJersey.com asked for the data last week.

COVID-19 devastated New Jersey's nursing homes. 

Almost 8,000 residents of long-term care facilities have died from the virus — about 38% of the state's 21,000 confirmed deaths. The nursing home death toll is likely higher, because it includes only confirmed cases. In addition, 143 staff members have died. 

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The campaign to administer vaccines at the state's nursing homes has been carried out by CVS and Walgreens under a contract with the federal government. The two have made almost 2,800 vaccination visits to long-term care facilities — both first and second shots along with some third visits to inoculate staff and residents who had been missed.

Despite the success of the vaccine, there are more than 300 nursing homes with active outbreaks, according to the state Health Department.

The lack of vaccination among staff continues to be a threat to residents, as are COVID-19 mutations that may prove to be more resistant to the current vaccines. 

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"The threats I see are if there is another PPE shortage or relaxed efforts," said Melissa O’Connor, a nursing professor at Villanova University. "We need to remain vigilant and see the pandemic through. Hope is definitely on the horizon." 

New Jersey has slowly begun to loosen restrictions on nursing homes. 

Indoor visitation was allowed beginning last week at nursing homes in seven counties that have seen COVID-19 activity drop significantly in the past two weeks to "moderate" status. Those counties are Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Camden, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem.

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Despite the drop in cases and deaths, Kris said nursing homes won't be free from COVID-19's threat until everyone who comes into contact with a facility gets vaccinated. 

"It can't be just the residents," she said. "You really need everyone from the staff to family members to volunteers to get the vaccine."

Laurie Facciarossa Brewer, the state's long-term care ombudsman, said she hopes the declining number of cases will allow for more restrictions to be eased. 

"Now that most residents are vaccinated, I think it is time for the federal government to give the states greater flexibility to expand visitation, regardless of the outbreak status of the facility," she said.

Scott Fallon covers the environment for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news about how New Jersey’s environment affects your health and well-being,  please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: fallon@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @newsfallon