Needle drawing from vial

Home care workers in New York state and Los Angeles soon can be vaccinated against COVID-19, health officials have announced.

Beginning Monday, New York home care workers and hospice workers will be eligible to receive their first dose of the vaccine, according to a state Department of Health guidance document.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that it expects to receive 50,700 doses of the Moderna vaccine, which will be administered primarily to home healthcare workers and healthcare workers at urgent care and primary care clinics. LA also will receive 82,645 Pfizer doses to be administered as second does to the first group of healthcare workers vaccinated in mid-December.

As the McKnight’s Home Care Daily previously reported, most states have placed home care nurses and aides in their top priority group for vaccination, along with other high-risk medical workers and those who work or live in nursing homes and assisted living communities.

But they have not been as clear on their plans for the home care group. Vaccinating home care workers presents logistical challenges not inherent with nursing homes, assisted living communities and hospitals, places where large groups more easily can be vaccinated.