Midlands Health & Rehab: COVID Vaccine Failures - SC
The administrator blamed "multiple turnovers for the infection preventionist role" for the oversight that affected residents aged 65 and older during a September inspection.
Federal inspectors found that residents 6, 16, 25, and 46 had no documentation showing they were ever offered the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine or educated about its benefits and risks. Three of the four residents had vaccine statuses marked as "pending consent" since November 2024, nearly ten months before inspectors arrived.
Resident 25's electronic medical record contained no immunization information at all.
The facility's own policy, revised in May 2023, required staff to track all resident vaccination status and document education provided to residents or their representatives about vaccine benefits and risks. The policy specifically mandated including the date and name of any representative involved in vaccination decisions.
Centers for Disease Control guidelines that the facility was supposed to follow recommended that adults over 65 receive two or more doses of the 2024-2025 COVID vaccine. Younger adults should receive at least one dose.
Resident 6's care plan, updated September 10, identified her as being "at risk for infections with need for vaccinations." Her preventive health care record showed her COVID status as "pending consent" since November 20, 2024.
Resident 16 had an identical care plan noting infection risk and vaccination needs. His vaccine status also remained "pending consent" from the same November date.
The administrator confirmed during a September 11 interview that none of the four residents' records contained evidence they were offered COVID vaccines or boosters.
Resident 46's care plan similarly identified infection risk requiring vaccinations, with her vaccine status stuck at "pending consent" since November 19, 2024.
The inspection found that out of 26 residents reviewed, five were examined for COVID vaccination compliance. Four of those five had received no vaccine offers or education.
Staff turnover in the infection prevention role created gaps in tracking and offering vaccines to vulnerable residents who depend on facility staff to keep them informed about available protections against infectious diseases.
The facility's electronic medical record system showed that vaccination tracking had stalled for months. Records indicated care plans acknowledged infection risks for most affected residents, but no follow-through occurred to actually provide the required vaccine education or offers.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to educate residents about available vaccines and document their decisions about whether to receive them. The facility failed to complete either requirement for the four residents.
The violation carried a designation of "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" affecting "some" residents, but inspectors noted the failure created potential risk of residents contracting COVID-19.
Resident 25 appeared to have the most significant documentation gaps, with her care plan updated in August lacking any immunization status information and her preventive health care record completely empty.
The other three residents had care plans acknowledging their infection vulnerability and need for vaccinations, making the failure to follow through with actual vaccine offers more glaring.
The facility's policy required tracking vaccination status in medical records and documenting education provided to residents or representatives, including dates and names of people involved in decisions.
None of the four residents had documentation showing this required education occurred.
The administrator's acknowledgment that staffing turnover contributed to the oversight suggests the facility struggled to maintain consistent infection prevention practices during personnel changes.
The inspection occurred September 11, nearly a year after the CDC issued its 2024-2025 COVID vaccination recommendations that the facility was required to implement.
Records showed the facility knew which residents needed vaccinations based on their care plans but failed to bridge the gap between identifying need and providing required education and offers.
The violation left elderly residents without information needed to make informed decisions about protecting themselves against COVID-19 infection.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Midlands Health & Rehabilitation Center from 2025-09-11 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
Midlands Health & Rehabilitation Center in Columbia, SC was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 11, 2025.
Three of the four residents had vaccine statuses marked as "pending consent" since November 2024, nearly ten months before inspectors arrived.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.