As major pharmacy retailers and long-term care pharmacies continue to coordinate the largest and fastest-produced vaccine rollout in U.S.  history, the industry is bracing for anticipated and unforeseen challenges in the weeks and months ahead.

In the beginning of 2021, the industry acknowledged it will face a number of challenges with vaccine distribution, particularly as additional vaccines were expected to be rolled out.

When it comes to safety and efficacy issues, LeadingAge’s vice president of regulatory affairs, Janine Finck-Boyle, said that side effects and supply issues are among the primary concerns. 

“Multidose vaccines will need to be carefully coordinated, especially as residents are admitted and discharged sometimes in a matter of days, meaning they may not have had a first dose and may need to get a second dose in  another setting,” she said. 

Combatting the vaccine skeptics is another battle for the field, even as initial reports show 90% and higher efficacy among Pfizer and other companies’ versions. As of press time, workers were lagging residents in their willingness to receive the vaccine. Finck-Boyle said LeadingAge will continue working with state and local partners “on the delicate question of whether vaccine mandates can or should be considered.”

As for training and education, selling the importance of the vaccine would seem easy given the year that just ended, but many stakeholders have noted that they have their work cut out for them. 

“If the data shows a 90% efficaciousness with the vaccine, then a full detailed effort behind vaccine education has to occur,” added T.J. Griffin, PharMerica‘s chief pharmacy officer. 

While vaccines will be free, the costs this industry has endured for personal protective equipment and others have been crushing, asserts LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan.

“This is COVID’s darkest hour — and a final test for the conscience of Congress,” Sloan said as she implored lawmakers to free up additional CARES Act funding.

From the January/February 2021 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News