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To: Maine Long-Term Care Facilities
From: Maine Immunization Program
Subject: Respiratory Season Announcements and Reminders
Date: June 3, 2024
As we near the end of the COVID-19, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
season we want to remind long-term care facilities (LTCF) that it is not too early to begin
preparing for the upcoming season. LTCF residents and staff continue to be particularly
vulnerable to COVID-19, flu and RSV. In an effort to ensure our most vulnerable population is
protected, we would like to remind staff of important announcements that may affect the
upcoming season and the ability to access vaccine. In addition, we would like to encourage
LTCF to make preparations now for the respiratory season ahead.
Bridge Access Program to end August 2024
On May 9, 2024, the U.S. CDC announced an earlier than anticipated end date for the Bridge
Access Program (BAP). The BAP currently provides free COVID-19 vaccines to adults without
health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs. The
program, originally scheduled to end in December 2024, will now end in August 2024. The
Maine CDC urges staff and their families who may be under or uninsured to get vaccinated now
while this vaccine is available to them at no cost.
COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendation for adults 65 years and older
Older adults are the most vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19 infection. A large
proportion of hospitalizations and deaths that occurred last year were among those aged 65 and
older. With COVID-19 continuing to circulate and protection waning among this age group, we
encourage LTCF residents and staff 65 years and older to follow U.S. CDC recommendations to
receive a dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine and get an additional dose
administered ≥4 months after the initial dose from this 2023 - 2024 season. Although a new
COVID-19 vaccine will be available for the upcoming 2024 - 2025 season, we encourage those
who are not currently up to date to get vaccinated now, rather than waiting for the fall.
Planning for the upcoming respiratory season
A significant number of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths result from COVID-19, flu and
RSV every year during the fall and winter virus season. Immunization against these three
respiratory viruses continues to be the best way to protect against hospitalizations, long-term
health issues, and death. It is not too early to start planning for the upcoming respiratory
season. Now is the time to start procuring privately purchased vaccinations to cover all
three respiratory viruses.
To protect your staff and residents we strongly encourage you to:
- Continue to offer 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine at your facility to those who have not yet
received it, as well as an additional dose to those 65 years and older.
- Offer updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine at your facility when it becomes available.
- Strongly recommend COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines to all residents.
- Encourage staff to stay up to date on vaccines recommended for health care personnel
and to take advantage of the Bridge Access Program before it expires in August 2024 to
access free COVID-19 vaccines. Remind staff that by getting vaccinated, they’re helping
protect the residents and patients they care for.
For more guidance on respiratory viruses, please visit the U.S. CDC webpage:
https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html
If you have any questions, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at (207) 287-3746
or email: ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov.
Thank you for all you do to help protect your staff and our most vulnerable population against
serious respiratory viruses.
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