industry.

Brandice.

>> A growing number of private

healthcare and nursing care

providers mandate for staff and

residents.

Laggingvaccination rates to

require that all employees at

state operated nursing homes

have the vaccine by early

October and in Illinois, 84% of

nursing home residents have been

fully vaccinated compared to

just 62% of workers according to

the CDC.

Joining us now to share her

thoughts is the executive

director of mercy circle and

this is part of the trinity

health group.

We should say that we did invite

several different unions that

represent the healthcare workers

to join this discussion, but

they all declined.

Last week, they put out a

statement saying rigid mandates

and the employees and these

congregate facilities have been

on the job everyday since the

onset of this pandemic and we

oppose any effort to define them

as a part of the problem rather

than recognize stheir dedicatior

dedication and protecting health

and saving lives.

Francis, thank you for joining

us and we should be clear that

your staff at mercy circle, just

so that we're certain that

there's no confusion there and,

first, tell us about mercy

circle and the community and how

many residents and staff?

>> Mercy circle has 110 units

and we're pretty small in the

Chicago south side.

>> OK.

And how without you say the tole

the toll on your residents and

staff and resident families?

>> It's been a tremendous toll.

The separation from family

families for our residents

during the beginning of the

pandemic and the peak created

some very dark times for us in

our industry and the impact of

the unknown and the uncertainty

of the virus and its impact or

spread throughout, if you

remember, the ederly initially

was scarry.

>> What were the mitigation

measures that meant going into a

lockdown?

Where family and friends

couldn't visit and the impact it

has on residents.

>> Exactly.

So we were all -- all long-term

facilities were shut down in

which no visitors can come.

It caused us to be creative to

find ways to keep family members

and residents connected.

Things like zoom calls and

face-time and window visits and

drive-by parades were done by

family members.

>> So I understand that 100% of

your residents there are

vaccinated and 90% of your

staff, you all were initial just

encouraging staff to be

vaccinated, but trinity health,

the network which you're apart

umposed the vaccine mandate and

what do we know what prompted

the organization to do that?

>> Trinity health initiated the

mandate largely because of our

core value of safety, resident

and colleague safety.

We just thought that was the

most important thing and we

should do more, so we were

fortunate to have already a high

participation level, but this

just helps to push us to reach

this.

>> Would you say the Delta

varient factored into that

decision?

>> I would say yes.

>> So for the unvaccinated

staff, so far, what proportion

would you say are hesitant to

get it because they're not

certain and what proportion are

adamantly opposed?

>> About 7% of the staff are

discerning the vaccine and

although you haven't -- we did

lose one staff member who was

adamants about not going, but we

peel that it's just so important

for the safety of our community,

both colleagues and residents,

that it's well worth the risks

involved in terms of we can

overcome anything for the safety

of our residents.

>> For those who are hesitant or

resistants, what reasons are

they giving?

>> I'll share initially,

people -- most people had a

wait-and see attitude.

When we were one of the first

communities to be vaccinated and

I think other staff members saw

that most of us at that time,

probably 70% had taken the

vaccine and there were to severe

effects and everything was going

well and more and more people

did the vaccine, they opted to

do the vaccine and that

wait-and-see accounted for a lot

of people delayed taking the

vaccine.

Now I think people are just

still thinking about it, but the

Delta varient is changing minds,

as well as just seeing so many

people going along with it and

knowing that it's important for

the safety of our community, is

also a factor, and you think

that weighs on people making

that decision.

>> How have residents and

families responded to the

vaccine mandate?

>> They are extremely pleased.

If we have a positive case in

the building, we have to go on

lockdown again to a shorter

time.

Having for vaccinated staff

members and residents prevent

more -- are left with the

opportunities to test positive

and having to shut down.

>> So going forward, you have a

deadline of

September 21st and you

mentioned one staff member did

resign rather meet the mandate

and receive the vaccine, what go

you think happens next?

Will some people who have taken

a hard line, will they remain a

part of the team?

>> We're hoping that they do and

see the bigger picture here

because this is not just -- it's

about our whole community and

greater community.

So we're really hoping that

everyone does see that safety.

Again our core value and that's

our most important priority.

>> Francis, thank you for the