The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that long-term care residents and staff will be among the first to receive access to COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are available. In response, the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) Medicine (formerly known as AMDA) has released a COVID-19 vaccine education toolkit to answer questions PALTC staff, residents, and family members may have about the vaccine.
The toolkit includes:
- Questions and Answers about the COVID-19 Vaccines for PALTC Staff, Patients, Residents and Family Members
- COVID-19 Vaccine: Answers to Your Questions (PowerPoint Presentation for Staff and Residents)
- Letter from Medical Director to Residents and Families About the COVID-19 Vaccines
- Strategies for Improving Staff and Resident Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccines
- An episode of AMDA COVID-19 Grand Rounds: Pearls from Your Colleagues Focused on the Vaccines
The toolkit is free, but nonmembers must complete a registration to gain access. The toolkit can be accessed here: COVID19-Toolkit (paltc.org)
The two largest U.S pharmacy chains, Walgreens and CVS, have partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services to vaccinate at long-term care centers. The vaccine is expected to start shipping within a day of approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The CDC reported that 99% of the nation’s nursing homes have enrolled in the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.
Issue
The COVID-19 vaccination will play an important role in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Many residents, families, and staff may have hesitancy in being one of the first to receive the vaccine. Leaders in long-term care may have questions as they look to being role models in receiving the vaccine. It is imperative that leaders, residents, families, and staff are provided with accurate education regarding the vaccine. In anticipation of the availability of the vaccine, now is the time to develop policies and procedures for administration of vaccine for both residents and staff.
Discussion
- Begin to develop policies for how the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to both staff and residents. The policies should be written separately for residents and staff, with accurate education materials available for both.
- Begin to educate residents, their families, and staff on the importance of receiving the vaccine, as well as the potential side effects of receiving the vaccine.
- Develop a tracking tool for monitoring administration of vaccine once it is available for both residents and staff. Audit to ensure that all residents, resident representatives, and staff members receive education so they understand the importance of receiving the vaccine and potential side effects to report.
