Delaware to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines in long-term care facilities

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health announced Thursday morning that Delaware is among the first states in the nation to begin vaccinating staff at long-term care facilities.

We’re told DPH facilitated the delivery of the vaccine to three long-term care facilities owned and operated by Genesis Healthcare Inc., based out of Kennett Square, PA. The Delaware facilities that received the vaccine are located in Dover, Milford, and Seaford, and all three locations plan to start vaccinating staff on Thursday.

“We are all relieved to see that this vaccine has arrived at our long-term care facilities to protect Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens from COVID-19,” said Governor John Carney. “But we’re not through the woods yet. We still face a difficult winter surge of cases and hospitalizations. Stay vigilant until we can widely distribute the vaccine. Wear a mask. Don’t gather with friends or family outside your household. We’ll get through this.”

Residents will be able to begin receiving the vaccine the week of December 28th, as part of vaccination efforts under the federal pharmacy program. Walgreens and CVS pharmacists are partnering with facilities to vaccinate residence.

Residents and staff at long-term care facilities have been one of the hardest-hit groups of the pandemic. Long-term care facility residents account for 1,736 of the state’s 47,929 positive COVID cases as of December 11th. In addition, these residents account for 455 of the state’s 833 coronavirus-related deaths.