The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking steps to ensure all Americans, including the nation’s seniors, have access to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine at no cost when it becomes available. Per CMS Administrator Seema Verma, “under President Trump’s leadership, we have developed a comprehensive plan to support the swift and successful distribution of a safe …
Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines
As we move toward a COVID-19 vaccine becoming a reality, many questions come to mind. When will a vaccine become available? When will a vaccine become available for me? Will the vaccine be mandated? Can my employer mandate I take the vaccine? What happens to my job if my employer mandates I take the vaccine and I refuse? The honest …
Vaccine or IC Practices?
Historically, public health messaging for pneumococcal disease prevention has centered around vaccination. While this remains paramount, a recent study conducted in China and other countries in East Asia highlights the key role of behavior and public health measures in reducing the transmission of S. pneumoniae. Older adults and high-risk individuals should consider adopting more meticulous infection control practices such as …
LTC Vaccination Program Deadline Extended to Next Friday!
On Tuesday, October 27th, AHCA announced that the federal government was extending the deadline for LTC facilities to sign up for the national vaccine distribution program. Read the memo below: The deadline for long term care facilities to sign up to participate in the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program has been extended to Friday, November 6. Please don’t wait …
HCAM/MCAL Member Update – Vaccination Distribution
White House Announces Vaccination Distribution Program for LTC Residents Today, the White House announced the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program–a national vaccine distribution program for long term care residents. The COVID-19 vaccine will likely become available in phases over the coming months. To prepare, the federal government has partnered with CVS and Walgreens to distribute and administer the vaccine …
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Strategy
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) today released two documents outlining the Trump Administration’s detailed strategy to deliver safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to the American people as quickly and reliably as possible. The documents, developed by HHS in coordination with the DoD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …
Vaccines: What You Need to Know Infographic
The intention of the influenza vaccine is to reduce the overall burden of respiratory illness to protect vulnerable populations at risk for severe illness. This document can help clear up some facts and rumors about the vaccines and can be found in the Resource & Education Center under Infection Control! Click here to download the document.
Goodbye Summer – Hello Flu Season!
Sadly, we are beginning to see summer coming to an end, evenings are getting cooler, it is still dark when we get up in the morning and yes, the dreaded flu season is just around the corner! Considering we are still in the midst of a global pandemic it hardly seems fair that we are going to be challenged yet …
To Vaccinate or Not – The Million Dollar Question!
The results in a poll conducted by the Yahoo News/YouGov on July 28-30 show the lowest percentage of “yes” answers to the question “If and when a coronavirus vaccine becomes available, will you get vaccinated” since the poll started. In fact, the “yes” percentages went from: 55% in early May 50% in late May and 46% in early July. That …
Warp Speed?
In a transcript published in Medscape on August 10, 2020, Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D., the director of the Division of Medical Ethics at New York University Langone Medical Center and School of Medicine, discussed the “warp speed” plan for developing a vaccine to fight COVID-19. Dr. Caplan discusses the process of FDA approval for vaccines and indicates that approval can …