Despite mandates, COVID vaccination rates for nursing home workers lag behind residents, remain low at some facilities

CHICAGO — Despite mandates, COVID-19 vaccination rates among workers at many nursing homes in Illinois remain at low levels, health officials say, prompting concerns that the rise in cases statewide could again endanger the elderly.

In Illinois, 89% of residents at long-term care facilities and 83% of workers were vaccinated as of Dec. 19 — but some facilities remained far below those marks, according to federal data. While 62% of residents who got vaccinated also had received booster shots, just 25% of vaccinated workers had gotten a booster.

Mark Cooper, 72, who lives in a south suburban nursing home he preferred not to name publicly,