Administration partners with CVS and Walgreens to provide COVID-19 vaccine in LTCFs nationwide

HHS and the U.S. Department of Defense announced Friday they have inked deals with CVS Health and Walgreens to provide and administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff at long-term care facilities (LTCF) nationwide. Under the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program, the vaccine will be free, and CVS Health and Walgreens will schedule and coordinate on-site clinic dates directly with each facility. The program is available to residents in all long-term care settings, including skilled nursing facilities, nursing home, assisted-living facilities, residential care homes, and adult family homes. CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, noted the “historic pharmacy partnership will truly help jurisdictions solve a logistical hurdle and decrease the burden of distributing, administering, and reporting COVID-19 vaccination for both states and long-term care facilities.” The pharmacies will also receive and manage vaccines and related supplies; ensure cold chain management for the vaccines; provide on-site administration of the vaccines; report required vaccination data to the state, local, or territorial, and federal public health authorities within 72 hours of administering each dose; and follow all applicable CMS requirements for COVID-19 testing for LTCF staff. Beginning October 19, 2020, LTCFs will be able to opt in and select which pharmacy partner they prefer to have on-site; LTCFs are not required to participate in the program and can request to use their existing pharmacy contracts to support COVID-19 vaccination. HHS noted that, “To ensure success of this program, HHS and OWS will continue coordination with jurisdictions, long-term care facilities, and federal partners including the CMS, and expand engagement with professional organizations including the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the American Health Care Association and Leading Age.”