January 14 Web Event: A Shot in the Arm For Long-Term Care Facilities? Early Lessons from the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout to High Priority Populations

With the pandemic taking a heavy toll among older Americans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and most states have placed a high priority on vaccinating residents and staff of long-term care facilities. People in nursing homes and other long-term care settings account for 6 percent of cases but 38 percent of deaths from COVID-19, a share that has remained largely consistent throughout the pandemic, according to KFF’s updated analysis.

KFF held an interactive web event on Thursday, January 14 to provide the latest data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in long-term care facilities and examine how the effort to vaccinate residents and staff in long-term care settings is going, challenges experienced so far, and opportunities for improvement.

The event was co-moderated by Tricia Neuman, a Senior Vice President of KFF and Executive Director of the Program on Medicare Policy, and Rachel Garfield, a Vice President at KFF and Co-Director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured. Priya Chidambaram, a Senior Policy Analyst at KFF, provided the latest data on cases and deaths in long-term care facilities. A panel discussion on COVID-19 vaccination efforts followed, featuring a range of perspectives, including those of patients, nursing home officials, and pharmacy providers who are performing the vaccinations.

Panelists included:

  • Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of the American Health Care Association, which represents over 14,000 skilled nursing facilities and assisted living centers
  • Nicole Howell, Executive Director for the California-based Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda Counties, which advocates for long-term care residents
  • Rina Shah, Group Vice President, Pharmacy Operations & Services, Walgreens
  • Matthew Yarnell, President, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania and National Chair of SEIU’s Nursing Home Council

The event is part of KFF’s commitment to gauge the impact of the novel coronavirus, including our COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor, which will track the public’s evolving views about and experiences with COVID-19 vaccines.

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Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center: 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | Phone 202-347-5270

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The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.