Argentum Infection Prevention & Control Announcements

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 (FDA) issued a new emergency use authorization (EUA) for the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test, now authorized for use at home with a prescription.

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it has begun distributing Phase 3 payments from the Provider Relief Fund to over 70,000 providers across the country, totaling $24.5 billion overall. Relief funding specifically for assisted living communities is a part of this distribution.

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.

At Argentum, we are calling on Congress to take swift action and pass bipartisan COVID-19 legislation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of senior living residents and staff. While we were pleased to see an additional $35 billion directed to the Provider Relief Fund in the framework of the Bipartisan Emergency COVID Relief Act of 2020, we need your help to ensure lawmakers understand the critical needs of senior living communities.

A framework of the Bipartisan Emergency COVID Relief Act of 2020 has been released and it includes another $35 billion directed toward the Provider Relief Fund (PRF). It also includes a directive to HHS to consider an appropriate distribution of funds for providers underrepresented in previous allocations, as well as those at risk of imminent closure. Among that $35 billion allocation is $2 billion for testing and tracing directed to nursing homes, HCBS, long-term care, and assisted living communities. 

“We are encouraged that the bipartisan agreement framework, for the first time, recognizes some of the essential needs of assisted living communities," said James Balda, Argentum president & CEO. "So many providers across the industry are still awaiting financial relief, and this additional funding will go a long way in supporting their ongoing operational needs to care for some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. But it is needed now: A recent survey of Argentum members showed almost 40% of respondents having 4 months or less of operating expenses and nearly half indicated they’ll have to close some communities if their financial situation does not improve.”

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: