LONG TERM CARE INDUSTRY WELCOMES
EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION BY FDA FOR COVID VACCINE
Calls On Governors And State Health
Agencies To Allocate Vaccine To Long Term Care Residents And Staff
As Soon As Possible
Send a link to a friend
[December 16, 2020]
The
American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living
(AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted
living communities across the country that provide care to approximately
five million people each year, released the following statement in
response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving
emergency use authorization for Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus
vaccine.
|
The following statement is attributable to Mark Parkinson, president and
CEO of AHCA/NCAL:
“On behalf of the long term industry, we welcome the decision by the FDA
to approve emergency use authorization to expedite the distribution of a
COVID vaccine.”
“The delivery of a safe and effective vaccine can’t come soon enough.
More than 100,000 in long term care have died from this virus in the
U.S. and our nursing homes are now experiencing the worst outbreak of
new cases since last spring with more than 2,000 residents succumbing to
this virus each week.”
“Given the
asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread of this virus combined with the
significant increase of community spread across the U.S., time is of the
essence and these vaccines will literally be a lifesaver for thousands
of residents, and expedite the reopening of our facilities to family
members and loved ones.”
[to top of second column] |
“A one-month delay in distributing the vaccine to all long term care
residents and caregivers, could result in more than 20,000 of our
residents losing their life when a vaccine could protect them. We’re in
a life or death race against the clock.”
“It is vital that governors and state health agencies are ready to
distribute the vaccine to our long term care residents and staff as soon
as possible to save as many lives as possible.”
For more information please visit www.ahcancal.org/coronavirus.
[press release from
AHCA/NCAL] |