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COVID-19 Vaccination for Long-term Care Residents

What to know

  • Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
  • CDC recommends everyone aged 5 years and older, including people who live and work in long-term care (LTC) settings, get 1 dose of the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Children aged 6 months – 4 years may need more than 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose to be up to date.
  • People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised can get additional updated COVID-19 vaccine doses.
  • People who live in LTC settings must give consent or agree to getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Health care professional comforting long-term care resident.

Why the vaccine is important

If you live or work in a long-term care (LTC) setting, you can help protect yourself and the people around you by getting your updated COVID-19 vaccine.

  • COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective—especially against becoming seriously ill, being hospitalized and dying.
  • COVID-19 vaccines can help keep you from getting seriously ill if you do get COVID-19.

If your loved one is not able to ask questions or otherwise communicate with the LTC staff, here’s what to know about consent for getting a COVID-19 vaccine:

  • Consent or assent for a COVID-19 vaccine is given by LTC residents (or people appointed to make medical decisions on their behalf called a medical proxy) and documented in their charts per the provider’s standard practice.
  • Residents who receive a COVID-19 vaccine (or their medical proxy) also receive a fact sheet before vaccination. The fact sheet explains the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Some COVID-19 vaccination providers may require written, email, or verbal consent from recipients before getting vaccinated. This is at the provider’s discretion; written consent is not required by federal law for COVID-19 vaccination in the United States (U.S.)
Keep Reading: Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines

How to get a COVID-19 vaccine

To make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for you or your family member:

  • Talk with the LTC staff about getting vaccinated on site.
  • Ask a family member or friend to help you schedule a vaccination appointment if you can’t get vaccinated on site. Visit vaccines.gov to find providers near you.
  • If you have additional questions about how to get a COVID-19 vaccine, talk with your healthcare provider.
Keep Reading: Infection Control Guidance: SARS-CoV-2
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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division