Trump Administration Signs Deal With CVS and Walgreens to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine to Seniors in Long-Term Care

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it has partnered with CVS Health and Walgreens to provide free coronavirus vaccines to seniors and staff in long-term care communities, reports CNBC . Beginning Monday, long-term care communities will be allowed to choose which pharmacy they prefer to have on-site. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Jay Butler said they can opt-in to the program via the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network. Should a community elect to not opt-in, there will be the possibility of administering vaccines through other sources. HHS said CVS and Walgreens will schedule and coordinate on-site clinic dates directly with each community, and the pharmacies expect three visits in all over two months to administer both doses of vaccine to residents and staff. Long-term care communities have no obligation to participate. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma said the agreement will guarantee that nursing communities "are at the front of the line for the COVID vaccine and will bring their grueling trial to a close as swiftly as possible." The announcement coincided on the day states must submit their draft plans to the federal government on how they will distribute a COVID vaccine if and when one is approved for public use.