Long-term care providers can now better coordinate local access to COVID-19 vaccines for residents and staff.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released updated resources for long-term care administrators to ensure that providers can know and consider options that work best for their residents and staff when it comes to vaccines.
The online tool explains how providers can direct residents and staff willing and able to travel to a local vaccination site to get vaccinated. It also explained how long-term care providers can expect the process to play out if they host an on-site vaccination clinic for the primary vaccine series or booster doses.
“When planning, LTC providers should take into consideration when residents and staff completed their primary vaccine series, so as many eligible individuals as possible will be able to receive a booster dose,” the CDC site explains.
“It is likely that there will be high demand for on-site vaccination clinics, and pharmacy partners will be scheduling clinics over the next few months,” the agency added.
The site also answers questions on the co-administration of vaccines, like flu and COVID-19, ensuring rural providers have vaccination options and on how they can administer vaccines onsite at a facility.
“Timing and availability of on-site clinics will likely vary based on pharmacy and state resources, as well as when the majority of your residents received their last dose,” the CDC noted. “Contact your long-term care pharmacy, local retail pharmacy, or other vaccine provider to arrange for an on-site vaccination clinic.”
