The Biden administration on Tuesday launched a six-week campaign to urge more Americans and older Americans, in particular, to get their COVID-19 booster shots.
“With winter and holiday gatherings right around the corner, more Americans getting their updated vaccine will help avoid thousands of preventable COVID-19 deaths,” the administration said in a fact sheet.
Among the actions the administration is taking is awarding $125 million in grants to national organizations that serve people with disabilities and older adults. The purpose is to support community vaccination programs and efforts. Funding will be available to help local aging and disability networks hold vaccination events at senior and community centers; and provide supportive services, such as accessible transportation, among other uses.
Also as part of the vaccination effort, the Department of Health and Human Services is expanding the number of vaccination sites, including mobile settings and sites in rural and remote areas, through more flexible ordering options for providers. And the White House is pushing to educate clinicians about the importance of recommending the COVID-19 vaccine and offering education. LeadingAge, which represents home care providers, along with other organizations, will host town halls with their thousands of members.
In another step to educate older adults, HHS is launching a new paid media effort targeting Americans age 50. The national TV ad, “Can’t Wait,” began airing Monday.
As of Nov. 2, only 23% of the U.S. population aged 65 years and older had received an updated, bivalent booster dose, while 93% had completed their primary series of shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
