COVID-19 Vaccination - Booster Dose - LTC Residents

COVID-19 Vaccination - Booster Dose - LTC Residents in United States

United States

Many long-term care facilities care for older adults with underlying diseases in close quarters. Often, these medical conditions and living situations can make residents more likely to be infected by the virus that causes COVID-19 and to become seriously ill from COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that residents of long-term care facilities get vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting a booster shot in addition to the initial COVID-19 vaccine enhances protection against the virus. Residents and family are also encouraged to find out the vaccination rate among staff and residents. Nursing homes are required to report staff and resident vaccination rates.

While research is still being conducted on how effective the COVID-19 vaccine and booster are in preventing its spread, all of the vaccines available in the United States have been proven to safely lower the risk for COVID-19 infections. For those who do contract illness from COVID-19, the vaccine reduces the severity of the disease and the risk of death.

Vaccinations protect not only individuals, but the community as well. Creating herd immunity helps protect everyone in the community and is the only option for protecting those who cannot receive the vaccine.

Vaccine clinics and online vaccine connectors have helped distribute more than 97.3 million booster doses in the United States as of March 28, 2022. In November 2021, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for workers in most health care settings, and many states have since issued their own vaccine mandates. The CDC has been working with long-term care facilities to ensure access to the COVID-19 vaccine through on-site vaccinations and resource sharing. Facilities can sign up with the CDC to host their own on-site vaccination clinics. 

Updated 4/12/2022

Dagan, Noa, Noam Barda, Eldad Kepten, Oren Miron, Shay Perchik, Mark A. Katz, Miguel A. Hernán, Marc Lipsitch, Ben Reis, and Ran D. Balicer. “BNT162b2 MRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Mass Vaccination Setting.” New England Journal of Medicine 384 (February 24, 2021): 1412–23. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2101765.