TEXAS TO PARTICIPATE IN FEDERAL COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR LONG-TERM CARE STAFF, RESIDENTS
Governor Greg Abbott announced last week that Texas will participate in a federal program to vaccinate residents and staff of long-term care facilities against COVID-19.
The Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program sends staff and Pfizer vaccines from partnering Walgreens and CVS locations to facilities to vaccinate residents and staff who volunteer to participate. The program is free of charge to facilities.
According to Abbott, over 1,200 skilled nursing facilities and over 2,000 other long-term care facilities have signed up for the program, totaling more than 225,000 certified beds. The first vaccines included in this program will be provided to pharmacies the week of December 21st, and the program will begin December 28th.
Abbott said the program will help the state “facilitate safe vaccinations among some of our most vulnerable populations,” as well as “protect residents and staff of long-term care facilities from COVID-19.” He thanked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for offering this free program and working alongside the state to “keep our communities safe.”
Long-term care facilities that have not enrolled in the pharmacy program can choose to enroll with the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) Immunization Program to receive vaccines and vaccinate their own staff and residents, or partner with a local pharmacy or other vaccine provider.