10.19.20 - The White House announced on Friday a deal with CVS Health and Walgreens to administer coronavirus vaccines to the elderly and staff in long-term care facilities.
The vaccine will be free of charge and available for residents in all long-term care settings, including skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential care homes and adult family homes, the Department of Health and Human Services stated in a press release recently.
There are four potential vaccines backed by the U.S. currently in late-stage testing. Most of the potential vaccines require two doses, although Johnson & Johnson’s requires just one shot, and some of them need to be transported and stored at varying and specific temperatures.
Starting Monday, long-term care facilities will be able to select which pharmacy they prefer to have on-site. The facilities can opt-in to the program through the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. If a facility chooses to not opt-in, there will be the possibility of being able to administer vaccines through other sources, including from local pharmacies.
HHS said Friday that CVS and Walgreens will receive and manage vaccines and also ensure they are stored at the proper temperatures. The companies will also be responsible for on-site administration of the vaccine.
Source: Financial Times
