Member updates on Congress passing a $900 billion stimulus package, new rate for staff surveillance testing, CDC releases additional guidance on COVID-19 vaccination in long-term care facilities, OSHA releases resource for understanding compliance with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard, county positivity rates >10% in Bristol & Nantucket counties, MassHealth issues bulletin on Coverage and Payment for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration, Testing, and Monoclonal Antibody Product Infusion, and DPH weekly call reminder.

Another reminder to members regarding the Town Hall Meeting at 8 pm Tonight with EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders.

A memo reminding members about the Town Hall Meeting tonight with EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders, the CMS-CDC Nursing Home Stakeholder Call scheduled for tomorrow and to order BinaxNow test kits from DPH.

This memorandum shares information on the confirmation of verbal consent from Walgreens and CVS, a COVID-19 Town Hall Meeting for Nursing Home Workers, Emergency Use Authorization Fact Sheet for COVID-19 in multiple languages, BinaxNow Test Kits and a COVID-19 vaccine presentation.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara M. Gregorio, President Re: COVID-19 Updates: DPH Releases Guidance on Considerations for HCP After COVID-19 Vaccination; Mass Senior Care Shares COVID-19 Vaccine Resources, and CHIA Reporting Extensions During the Holiday Season Date: December 17, 2020 DPH Releases Guidance on Considerations for Health Care Personnel After COVID-19 Vaccination The DPH has released guidance on Considerations for Health Care Personnel After COVID-19 Vaccination. Health care personnel may experience side effects following COVID-19 vaccination. Providers

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season from all of us here at Massachusetts Senior Care Association.

It is hard to imagine long term care staff having the time or energy to do much of anything beyond their workday after dealing with the extraordinary demands of caring for residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. But more than 75 individuals submitted applications for the 2021 Mass Senior Care Foundation Scholarship program, a testament to the commitment and dedication of our caregiving staff.

To assist members with talking to long term care staff, residents, and family members about the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, Mass Senior Care has created a new campaign “Arming Ourselves Against COVID-19”. The campaign’s dedicated webpage at www.maseniorcare.org/covid-vaccine has resources related to the COVID-19 vaccine including links to information about vaccine allocation, safety and efficacy, as well as tools to prepare your vaccination clinics.

Information is provided on consents required by CVS and Walgreens for the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommendations on post-vaccine considerations for residents, additional tools and resources offered by DPH and Provider Relief Fund FAQs for vaccine distribution.