Long-term care residents will likely be among the first to receive COVID-19 booster shots once distribution begins, according to federal health officials. 

U.S. public health and medical experts housed under the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday announced federal health agencies will begin offering booster shots the week of Sept. 20, pending final regulatory approval. It’s also recommending all Americans who have had Pfizer or Moderna vaccines get booster shots eight months after their second dose. 

“At that time, the individuals who were fully vaccinated earliest in the vaccination rollout, including many healthcare providers, nursing home residents, and other seniors, will likely be eligible for a booster,” officials said in a joint statement. “We would also begin efforts to deliver booster shots directly to residents of long-term care facilities at that time, given the distribution of vaccines to this population early in the vaccine rollout and the continued increased risk that COVID-19 poses to them.” 

It wasn’t clear late Wednesday how federal agencies would distribute the booster shots. Walgreens and CVS, who led the initial vaccine rollout for long-term care, both said they didn’t have any additional details on how the vaccines would be administered in long-term care facilities. 

“As we await further guidance and approval from regulatory agencies, we’re fully prepared to play a leading role in providing booster shots this fall,” a CVS spokesman told McKnight’s Wednesday. 

Walgreens in a statement added that it “will continue to follow guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to administer vaccines to eligible populations and feel confident we have the pharmacy expertise, infrastructure and local community presence to accelerate access to these vaccinations.”

Good timing for LTC

Chad Worz, PharmD, head of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, said the early indication is that, if needed, long-term care facilities will continue to get booster doses from their contracted pharmacy or the same pharmacy they have been receiving doses. 

“I think more importantly, if the data supports these doses, there is the potential they could be coordinated with the influenza vaccinations which also occur in the late September, October time frame,” Worz said. “These vaccines would be available to administer concurrently so this may help with the logistical challenge of administering doses to all residents and staff. This also may improve vaccination rates from flu vaccinations, which has been an anticipated opportunity since the pandemic.” 

He also stressed third doses should continue to be prioritized for the immunocompromised as experts gain more information on the boosters for all others. 

Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, added his organization will continue to “engage with public health officials to help advise and hopefully streamline the process for administering booster shots considering the diversity of the long-term care profession.”