Trump administration sees increase in CVS and Walgreens program enrollments

The Trump administration said on Wednesday it was witnessing a “dramatic adoption” of a program that will allow CVS Health and Walgreens to deliver coronavirus vaccines to seniors in long-term care facilities.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said 99% of skilled nursing facilities across the country have signed up for the program, which will give Covid-19 vaccines free to the elderly and will be available to them. residents in all long-term care facilities. , including skilled nursing homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and homes for adults. He said 100% of installations in 20 states are signed.

“Using pharmacy networks allows us to expand access beyond stand-alone physical pharmacies, as pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians also provide vaccines in places like grocery stores,” he said. Azar said at a press conference on the Trump administration’s vaccination program. Operation Warp Speed. “The ultimate goal here is to make the Covid-19 vaccine as convenient as getting the flu shot.”

Azar’s comments come hours after Pfizer announced it would seek emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in the coming days after a final analysis of the data found its vaccine to be very effective, safe and seemed to prevent serious illness. If licensed, the vaccine will likely be released in stages, with healthcare workers and vulnerable Americans, such as the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions, who will get it first.

The Trump administration first announced the program with CVS and Walgreens in October. Center for Medicare and Medicaid services administrator Seema Verma said at the time that the program would ensure that nursing homes, which have been hit hard by the virus, “are on the front lines for the Covid vaccine and will bring their grueling essay to a loved one as quickly as possible. “

There are approximately 15,000 long-term care facilities as well as 35,000 other assisted living facilities in the United States, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 9,000 and 10,000 establishments had already opted for the program at the end of October, according to US health officials.

The program is optional, and facilities can join the program through the CDC’s National Health Care Safety Network. If a facility chooses not to participate, there will be the option of being able to administer vaccines through other sources, including local pharmacies, officials said.