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Nursing homes call for stronger COVID-19 vaccine plan

Times-Tribune - 2/6/2021

Feb. 6—Long term care officials say they're concerned the state has no plan to assist facilities in ensuring residents and staff can get the COVID-19 vaccine once the federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens concludes.

The two pharmacies have contracts to hold three vaccination clinics at all nursing homes nationwide. After that, the facilities will have to fend for themselves to secure vaccinations for newly admitted residents and staff hires, said Zach Shamberg, president of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, a trade group for the long term care industry.

"We need guidance on where the vaccine is going to come from when the federal pharmacy partnership program ends," Shamberg said. "Right now, it's really an every provider for themselves mentality."

Locally, Dr. Richard Feifer, chief medical officer for Genesis Health Care, which operates Abington Manor and Linwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, said it's crucial the state address the concerns.

"We continue ... to advocate for a plan as we simply do not have access to the vaccine going forward," Feifer said in an email.

The issue is among several concerns Shamberg and other industry officials say remain unresolved. Equally pressing is the lack of a plan to assist elderly citizens who live independently in congregate settings, such as high-rise apartment complexes, said Adam Marles, president of LeadingAge Pa, a trade group for nonprofit agencies that serve the elderly.

That population also is medically fragile and at increased risk for contracting the virus due to the close living quarters. Mass clinics could be easily set up at the buildings, but that's largely not happening, Marles said.

"We are talking about people who are in their 80s, 90s or 100, who generally have mobility issues or other health challenges," Marles said. "The plan from the state for those people has been and continues to be, 'go find a retail clinic somewhere.'"

Friends of the Poor, in conjunction with the Scranton Housing Authority, Scranton Primary Health Care Center and the Wright Center for Community Health, have teamed up to host vaccine clinics at several senior high-rise complexes. Those clinics came after Friends of the Poor sought care providers and reached out to the Department of Health to express their concern about the vulnerable populations in the high-rises.

Feifer said he believes nursing home operators' concerns could be resolved by delivering vaccines directly to facilities for their staff to administer. Alternately, he suggested the government extend the pharmacy partnership agreement to allow additional clinics on an ongoing basis.

Maggi Mumma, a spokesperson for the Health Department, said the department is seeking guidance from the federal government on how to best handle the next step for long term care facilities. For now, it plans to continue vaccinations using existing relationships with pharmacists and health care providers.

State Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville, said that's not good enough. Yudichak has criticized the state's vaccine rollout, particularly for the elderly. He wants to create an emergency task force to address the issues.

"This should not become a competitive environment for our long term care facilities," Yudichak said. "The DOH needs to develop a better plan to make sure we have a coordinated response."

Shamberg and Marles said they support forming a task force, but stress the state needs to act quickly as long term care facilities continue to be the epicenter for COVID-19 infections and deaths.

"At the end of the day, a lack of a plan will cost peoples' lives," Marles said.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137; @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter.

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