Dear Valued Partner:
Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents and staff continue to be vulnerable to influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory illnesses this season. Please share these new and updated materials from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) with your staff, residents, and families about the importance and urgency of getting a yearly flu vaccine, an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and RSV vaccine for older adults. These resources and more are listed below and available on the Resources for Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) page.
Testing and treatment for COVID-19 are also critically important tools to protect our vulnerable LTCF community. CDPH is continuing to provide free COVID-19 tests to LTCFs. Use this CDPH test order form to order a 2-month supply of COVID-19 tests before February 29, 2024. Additional information on how to obtain free tests after February is available on the CDPH COVID-19 Testing webpage.
Prescription COVID-19 medications remain effective for treating COVID-19 to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death, especially among long-term care residents. Most of the medications must be started within the first 5 days of symptoms to be effective. There may be a co-pay for the medications for those with commercial insurance, but the medications should remain free or low-cost for most residents through insurance and/or residents assistance programs. For Medi-Cal and Part D Medicare members, the medications should have $0 copay. For non-Part D Medicare or uninsured members, patients can enroll in patient assistance programs. For more information and how to enroll please see:
For Paxlovid: PAXCESS™ | PAXLOVID™ (nirmatrelvir tablets; ritonavir tablets);
For Lagevrio: Merck Programs to Help Those in Need - Product (merckhelps.com);
For Veklury: Patient Support for Prescription COVID-19 Treatment | Patient Site (veklury.com)
Find more information on COVID-19 medications and free telehealth services at the CDPH COVID-19 Treatments Webpage. CDPH also provides a COVID-19 Treatments Communication Toolkit, including materials that can be printed and posted in facilities or handed out to staff and visitors.
