Older adults who are home care recipients most likely will not be part of the first group to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available, but home health workers will be, according to LeadingAge, which recently participated in a question-and-answer session with officials from the Department of Health and Human Services who are leading the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.
“The top priority is likely to be healthcare workers, then older people in congregate settings,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, LeadingAge said in a post on its website.
“Older individuals living in the community and receiving home care (personal care, home health, hospice, etc.) are considered community residents, not residents of congregate settings. It is expected that they will receive vaccines soon, but not in this first group,” LeadingAge added.
“Staff who work in home care settings are included in the top priority group, health care workers,” the group said.
