Blog
Letter to LTC from Maine Immunization Program
- By: Maureen Carland
- On: 06/11/2024 08:14:24
- In: Quality/Regulatory
Bridge Access Program to end August 2024
On May 9, 2024, the U.S. CDC announced an earlier than anticipated end date for the Bridge Access Program (BAP). The BAP currently provides free COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs. The program, originally scheduled to end in December 2024, will now end in August 2024. The Maine CDC urges staff and their families who may be under or uninsured to get vaccinated now while this vaccine is available to them at no cost.
COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendation for adults 65 years and older
Older adults are the most vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19 infection. A large proportion of hospitalizations and deaths that occurred last year were among those aged 65 and older. With COVID-19 continuing to circulate and protection waning among this age group, we encourage LTCF residents and staff 65 years and older to follow U.S. CDC recommendations to receive a dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine and get an additional dose administered ≥4 months after the initial dose from this 2023 - 2024 season. Although a new COVID-19 vaccine will be available for the upcoming 2024 - 2025 season, we encourage those who are not currently up to date to get vaccinated now, rather than waiting for the fall.
Planning for the upcoming respiratory season
A significant number of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths result from COVID-19, flu and RSV every year during the fall and winter virus season. Immunization against these three respiratory viruses continues to be the best way to protect against hospitalizations, long-term health issues, and death. It is not too early to start planning for the upcoming respiratory season. Now is the time to start procuring privately purchased vaccinations to cover all three respiratory viruses.
To protect your staff and residents we strongly encourage you to:
- Continue to offer 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine at your facility to those who have not yet received it, as well as an additional dose to those 65 years and older.
- Offer updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine at your facility when it becomes available.
- Strongly recommend COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines to all residents.
- Encourage staff to stay up to date on vaccines recommended for health care personnel and to take advantage of the Bridge Access Program before it expires in August 2024 to access free COVID-19 vaccines. Remind staff that by getting vaccinated, they're helping protect the residents and patients they care for.
If you have any questions, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at (207) 287-3746 or email: ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov.
Thank you for all you do to help protect your staff and our most vulnerable population against serious respiratory viruses.
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org