Argentum COVID-19 Announcements

As of yesterday, the CDC reported that just under 4.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been distributed for use in long-term care facilities. On average, 137,000 doses of vaccine are being distributed for use by this sector each day. Previously, the CDC estimated a total of 3 million people needing vaccines within this sector and as such, they have already distributed 146% of the doses needed for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and other long-term care settings.

The Vaccination Toolkit for Long-Term Care Facilities is now live on CDC’s website.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This EUA permits the vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. for individuals 18 and older.

Today, a U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted (20 in favor, one abstention) to recommend the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), citing that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed its risks. It is anticipated that the FDA will issue an EUA for the Moderna vaccine tomorrow. This EUA would clear the way for nearly 6 million more vaccine doses to be shipped as early as this weekend. Learn more.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, clearing the way for distribution in the United States.

Voting today that “the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks for use in individuals 16 years of age and older,” the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee pushed emergency use of the vaccine over a major hurdle.

Vaccine administration is one of the most important issues the senior living industry will address this year. Our Vaccine Readiness Briefing webinar will provide insight and information to help senior living leaders prepare and be ready to get this right. Join us Monday, December 14 from 1-2pm ET, and hear...

Yesterday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which serves in an advisory capacity to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), voted to recommend that residents and staff of long-term care facilities be prioritized in Phase 1a; this includes assisted living communities. ACIP’s final recommendation will go to the director of the CDC for approval before becoming official CDC policy. (Review the full ACIP presentation here.) As a result, we recommend providers take the following actions:

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), LeadingAge, Argentum and the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) released a joint statement today regarding distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine:

At Argentum, we’ve recently participated in a number of calls on the upcoming COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans. Here, we are sharing some information on the latest plans to date and tips on how to best prepare.