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First round of COVID-19 vaccines nearly complete at nursing homes

HARRISBURG — To date, 100 percent of facilities enrolled in the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program have received their first vaccine dose, 70 percent have received their second doses and, 70 percent of personal care homes and assisted living residences enrolled in the program have received their first doses.

The news came from the departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS) in an update on Pennsylvania’s progress administering COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff of long-term and congregate care facilities eligible in Phase 1A.

“Vaccinating residents and staff of long-term and congregate care facilities – people who are often most at-risk of a severe case of COVID-19 if exposed – will protect our most vulnerable residents and, hopefully, reduce size and severity of outbreaks that have challenged congregate settings.

This progress is a much-needed reprieve for long-term care facilities that have been particularly challenged by this pandemic,” said DHS Sec. Teresa Miller. “We are incredibly grateful to the committed staff at these facilities for their perseverance over the last year and their continued dedication to safety and fighting COVID-19 as we move forward. We have a long way to go, but we must recognize and celebrate this progress.”

Residents and staff of skilled nursing facilities, personal care homes, and assisted living residences are being vaccinated by CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership, and residents and staff of other DHS-licensed long-term and congregate care settings are getting COVID-19 vaccines through a partnership between DHS and Rite Aid.

Pennsylvania is participating in the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program in order to coordinate vaccinations for skilled nursing facilities, which are licensed by DOH, as well as personal care homes, assisted living facilities, and intermediate care facilities for people with disabilities licensed by DHS.

Pennsylvanians living in these facilities enrolled in the federal program are receiving vaccines from CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. As of February 11, all skilled nursing facilities have had their first round of COVID-19 vaccine doses, and more than two-thirds of facilities statewide have had their second-round vaccine doses. More than 70 percent of personal care homes and assisted living facilities covered through the partnership have received their first round of vaccine doses, and CVS and Walgreens expect to finish first rounds before the end of the month.

Nearly 4,400 people have been vaccinated so far through this partnership. Approximately 7,000 people living and working in 1,800 licensed facilities and group homes will be vaccinated at 78 scheduled clinics over just the next nine days.

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