As COVID-19 vaccines continue rolling out across the country, CMS is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers and keeping you updated on the latest COVID-19 resources from HHS, CDC and CMS.
With information coming from many different sources, CMS has up-to-date resources and materials to help you share important and relevant information on the COVID-19 vaccine with the people that you serve. You can find these and more resources on the COVID-19 Partner Resources Page and the HHS COVID Education Campaign page. We look forward to partnering with you to promote vaccine safety and encourage our beneficiaries to get vaccinated when they have the opportunity. For more information, visit the CMS COVID-19 Policies and Guidance page.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources to Support Vulnerable Populations
Many groups such as older adults and people with disabilities may have substantial challenges accessing COVID-19 vaccination services and warrant specific considerations to support equitable vaccine access. The CDC has provided guidance, tools and toolkits and other COVID-19 vaccine resources to support vulnerable populations who are a higher risk, to help them make decisions, protect their health, and communicate with their communities.
Toolkit for People with Disabilities – The CDC has created a toolkit to help people with disabilities and those who serve or care for them make decisions, protect their health, and communicate with their communities. This toolkit has several resources including:
- Guidance for Vaccinating Older Adults and People with Disabilities: Ensuring Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Access – This document summarizes what jurisdictions should consider when planning to vaccinate older adults and people with disabilities living in the community.
- Vaccine Considerations for People with Disabilities – This webpage provides information for people with disabilities or conditions and for their care providers.
- Guidance for Direct Service Providers for People with Disabilities – This webpage provides information for direct service providers who provide a wide variety of home and community-based, health-related services that support people with disabilities.
Vaccinating Homebound Persons With COVID-19 Vaccine – COVID-19 vaccination of homebound persons presents unique challenges to ensure safe and effective vaccination, This webpage provides guidance on management of vaccines and vaccination for persons vaccinated at home or in small group settings.
Toolkit for People Experiencing Homelessness – This webpage provides guidance and tools to help homeless service providers make decisions and protect and communicate with staff and with people who are experiencing homelessness.
COVID-19 vaccines for patients in dialysis clinics – The federal government is partnering with dialysis organizations, local and state jurisdictions to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines for patients and healthcare personnel in outpatient dialysis clinics. This webpage provides information for dialysis partners and public health jurisdictions to ensure equitable and effective access to COVID-19 vaccines and increase availability of COVID-19 vaccines for patients in dialysis clinics.
Other Communications Resources
April is National Minority Health Month, and this year, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is focusing on the impacts COVID-19 is having on racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native communities and underscoring the need for these vulnerable communities to get vaccinated as more vaccines become available. The theme for National Minority Health Month is #VaccineReady.
Spread the word by accessing and sharing the resources in the National Minority Health Month Toolkit, which has resources, sample social media messages, and downloadable graphics.
To learn more about National Minority Health Month, visit our website (English | Spanish), sign up to receive email updates on news and activities, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
NEW COVID-19 Public Education Campaign – HHS just launched We Can Do This, a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. Campaign resources and toolkits are available to reach diverse communities. More information can be found here.
Communication Resources Updates – The CDC recently updated it’s Communication Resources for COVID-19 Vaccines and the Social Media Toolkit: COVID-19 Vaccinations with the latest and most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine information.
In Case You Missed It
NEW Guidance for Providers: COVID-19 Vaccine Administration – No Out-of-Pocket Cost to Patients
NEW Resources for Medicare beneficiaries:
- Stay Protected from COVID-19 – Medicare Covers the Vaccine card
- Bring Your Medicare Card When You Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine card
For more information, please contact us at: Partnership@cms.hhs.gov.