Pharmacy retailers CVS Health and Walgreens were both on track to have completed the first round of coronavirus vaccinations at skilled nursing facilities, the companies reported Monday.
Almost all nursing homes in the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care program have scheduled the first of two COVID-19 vaccination clinics, and 88% had completed the first clinic as of Jan. 21.
Early this month, AMFM Nursing & Rehabilitation Centers celebrated the completion of second-round COVID-19 vaccinations at all 19 of its buildings — before many had even offered a first round and nearly two months ahead of the target a national provider organization has set for all U.S. facilities to finish both rounds.
U.S. pharmacy retailers CVS Health and Walgreens both expect to be done with administering the first doses of coronavirus vaccines at long-term care facilities by the end of January.
Two months after most U.S. long-term care operators signed on to a federally run vaccination program, the first residents and staff members have begun receiving their shots.
U.S. pharmacy retailers Walgreens and CVS Health both began coronavirus vaccinations at long-term facilities late last week.
Most nursing homes who opted into the federal COVID-19 vaccine program are likely to receive their first doses starting early next week.
With vaccine approval anticipated shortly, the best communicators will have the smoothest Phase 1 vaccination process, say Omnicare and PharMerica. Community pharmacies have recommendations as well.
An influential committee on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to recommend that healthcare personnel and residents in long-term care should be the very first recipients of COVID-19 vaccinations. The vote reflects a desire for maximum benefit and minimum harm, committee members said.
The collaboration will add manpower, reporting and other key capabilities to future COVID vaccine delivery in LTC facilities and communities, says Griffin, an Operation Warp Speed adviser.
