COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Long-Term Care Settings
May 20, 2022The federal government is committed to ensuring that residents and staff in long-term care (LTC) settings, such as nursing homes, assisted living, residential care communities, group homes and senior housing, have access to COVID-19 vaccines to receive primary series and booster shots. For additional examples of LTC settings, see COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Long-Term Care Settingsexternal icon.
The goal is to continue to protect those who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19—especially residents of LTC settings. All LTC settings that request assistance accessing COVID-19 vaccines for their residents and staff will receive the support they need.
Many LTC providers have already identified strategies and partnerships to obtain and administer COVID-19 vaccines for residents and staff. These include:
- Working with established LTC partners and retail pharmacy partners
- Coordinating with state and local health departments
Long-term care providers are encouraged to consider the option that works best for their residents and staff when coordinating access to COVID-19 vaccines, either in the local community or on-site. Additional details on these options are available on the pages linked below.https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/long-term-care/pharmacy-partnerships/administrators-managers.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/long-term-care/pharmacy-partnerships/jurisdictions.html
Additional Information COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people ages 5 years and older in the United States for the prevention of COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized by FDA are highly effective in preventing serious outcomes of COVID-19, including severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Efforts to maximize the proportion of people in the United States who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 remain critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems should receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after the initial 2 doses.
CDC now recommends that certain people receive a COVID-19 booster shot. For more information, visit Who is Eligible For a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot?
In addition, COVID-19 vaccines may now be administered along with other vaccines. This includes simultaneous administration of the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines such as the flu vaccine on the same day, as well as coadministration within 14 days. For more information, see Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines.
To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/long-term-care/pharmacy-partnerships.html.