From Vaccines to Vigilance: Strengthening Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care in 2025

COVID-19 isn’t gone… It’s evolving. In 2025, vaccine advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their national vaccine strategy, putting infection prevention back in the spotlight for long-term and post-acute care. For staff, this year’s changes bring both a challenge and an opportunity: protecting residents with complex needs while reinforcing the everyday practices that stop infections before they spread.

What’s New in COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance

Here’s what different this year, and what your facility needs to know:

• New formula. The new monovalent COVID-19 vaccine targets the JN.1 variant and its LP.8.1 sublineage, expected to dominate during the 2025–2026 respiratory season.
• Eligibility shift. Instead of automatic eligibility, the recommendation is now for individuals (six months and older) to make COVID-19 vaccine decisions in consultation with their medical providers. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) highlights that among people under age 65, those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 will will benefit the most from vaccination.
• State access. Some states are broadening vaccine access, creating a patchwork of policies. This variation can lead to confusion about availability, coverage, and reimbursement — making it important for facilities to track local updates closely.

Beyond Vaccines: Infection Prevention Measures

Changing vaccine guidance and uneven state policies are creating new challenges for staff and residents seeking COVID-19 protection. Under the federal requirement for shared clinical decision-making, most people must now consult with their medical providers, and sometimes their insurers, before getting vaccinated. That process can create barriers, such as limited provider availability or insurance hurdles. 

At the same time, the highly transmissible JN.1 variant underscores the need for added protection. Taken together, these developments mean that vaccination must be paired with strong infection-control practices to truly protect vulnerable populations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes recommends a comprehensive strategy that includes vaccines, testing, and infection control practices to stop the spread of respiratory infections.

Here’s a refresher on key infection prevention and control measures in long-term and post-acute care settings.

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette

Hand hygiene is still the number-one defense:

• Wash with soap and water when hands are visibly dirty, after direct care, or after removing gloves.
• Use alcohol-based hand rub when hands aren’t visibly soiled.

Respiratory hygiene is equally important since it prevents the spread of droplets:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow.
• Discard tissues immediately, and wash hands.
• Provide masks for residents, staff, and visitors with respiratory symptoms, and encourage physical distancing when possible.
• When community virus levels rise, implement universal masking for staff, visitors, and residents outside their rooms.

PPE and Environmental Cleaning

Personal protective equipment (PPE) acts as a barrier between you and infection:

• Wear gloves when there is the potential for contact with blood or body fluids, adding gowns, masks, or eye protection for tasks involving splashes or sprays. 
• Always perform hand hygiene before putting on PPE and after removing it.

Environmental cleaning is equally important:

• Disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as bed rails, doorknobs, light switches, frequently; any area contaminated with blood or body secretions should be promptly disinfected using EPA-registered products.
• Clean shared equipment like vital-sign monitors, therapy tools, and remote controls between residents, and decontaminate them using facility-approved disinfectants.

Sharps and Waste

Safe sharps disposal prevents secondary infections. Dispose of needles and scalpels in puncture-proof containers at the point of use, and never recap.

Biohazardous waste, such as used gloves, masks, or cleaning cloths contaminated with body fluids, should be discarded in clearly labeled red bags or containers. 

With prevention in place, the next step is ensuring vaccines reach everyone who needs them.

How Staff Can Support Vaccination

With the updated vaccine guidance, ensure your facility actively communicates the importance of COVID-19 and other recommended vaccinations and helps residents and staff obtain them.

• Stay informed and communicate clearly about vaccine updates. A quick explanation—“This year’s shot matches the JN.1 variant and is available through your medical provider”—helps build trust and encourage uptake.
• Support timely vaccination for residents. Work with providers and leadership to organize clinics or coordinate with pharmacies so doses are administered before peak season. Identifying residents with chronic illnesses is particularly important.
• Make access easier for staff. Help staff navigate insurance authorizations, and arrange on-site clinics when possible
• Educate residents, families, and visitors. Explain why certain precautions—like masking or visitor restrictions—are in place during spikes in activity.

Response to Outbreaks: Testing and Treatment

Even with strong prevention, outbreaks can happen. Speed is key:

• Conduct regular symptom surveillance among residents and staff.
• Test quickly and separate anyone with signs of infection. 
• Collaborate with public health authorities if an outbreak is suspected to ensure rapid testing, treatment, and support. 

Because COVID-19 evolves quickly, staying flexible and ready to adapt policies is essential.

Conclusion: A Culture of Safety

The CDC advisory panel’s latest vaccine guidance reframes COVID-19 vaccination as a tool within a broader infection-control strategy. When paired with infection-prevention basics—hand hygiene, PPE, cleaning, ventilation, and rapid outbreak response—care teams can safeguard both residents and staff.

Consistency in these practices is key. It creates a culture where safety is visible, infections are rare, and families trust the care environment.

Ask yourself: Is your facility ready for the season ahead?

At Showd.me, we help long-term and post-acute care organizations take the guesswork out of infection prevention. Our platform ensures training is consistent, policies are standardized, and staff are equipped with the knowledge they need—day in and day out.

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