A new toolkit created by industry clinicians aims to help long-term care operators directly address the questions staff members, residents and their families are asking about COVID-19 vaccines and getting vaccinated.
The kit includes a PowerPoint presentation that healthcare providers can share with employees and residents to stay a step ahead of concerns. It also contains a sample medical director’s letter about vaccines, which can be sent to families.
The PowerPoint presentation addresses the following topics, among others:
- The possible impact of being first in line for the vaccine
- The vaccine trials being “rushed”
- Safety
- Side effects
- The protection the vaccine provides, and how long it lasts
“The goal of the toolkit is to make sure everyone has a game plan for educating staff, residents, and families,” said Leslie Eber, M.D., who led the toolkit effort as a board member of AMDA-The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. “It is imperative that we address everyone’s concerns about the vaccine and answer questions honestly. Education is the pathway to understanding … and feeling comfortable about its safety and efficacy.”
The kit also covers strategies to boost confidence in the vaccines and includes a link to a new episode of the organization’s COVID-19 video series: “AMDA COVID-19 Grand Rounds: Pearls from Your Colleagues.”
The free toolkit can be found here. Users must register for access.
