Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 Vaccination

Commissioner Lambrew letterhead

To: Maine Long-Term Care Facilities

From: Maine Immunization Program

Subject: Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 Vaccination

Date: January 4, 2023

 

As we enter the winter months, we are seeing an increase in respiratory illness and lower rates of vaccination in older adults (over 65 years of age) than at this time last year. It is critical to vaccinate older adults that are at high risk for severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. The updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters are the best protection against COVID-19 variants causing illness right now.  

We are asking for your help to increase vaccination among residents in long-term care facilities. The U.S. CDC has created a COVID-19 vaccine sub-provider agreement to allow Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities that are not directly enrolled as providers in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program to access COVID-19 vaccine doses through enrolled pharmacy providers for direct administration by the LTC facilities to their residents and staff. To learn more about how to enroll in this program, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/ltcf-sub-provider-agreement.html  

Additionally, the Maine Immunization Program would appreciate your time in completing a quick, 2-minute survey to gauge which LTC facilities will be participating in this program. Please take a moment to complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LTCF_COVID-19_Vaccinations

Thank you for all your efforts to increase vaccination among this critical population who are at great risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.