Vaccine Delivery at Assisted Housing Sites

Q Can sites coordinate with local health departments to provide on-site COVID-19 vaccines?

A Yes. With COVID-19 cases increasing across the country, the Trump administration recently instructed states to start vaccinating every American 65 and older, as well as millions of adults with medical conditions that put them at higher risk of dying from COVID-19. According to the health secretary, the federal government will release all available doses of the vaccine and states should start allowing pharmacies and community health centers, which serve largely poor populations, to administer the shots.

As state and local health departments navigate this new directive, due to your site’s resident makeup or location, you may be asked to set up on-site vaccination services temporarily. HUD, in an updated set of Q&As for Multifamily Housing providers issued on Jan. 4, stated that the “temporary use of property common areas, parking lots, and vacant offices by providers of healthcare services to provide flu shots and/or COVID-19 testing and vaccines to residents is allowable. The services must not affect property operating costs beyond budgeted and approved supportive services funds.”

In addition, HUD says owners and agents are encouraged to consult with their legal counsel before hosting healthcare services on site and to visit the CDC’s vaccine web page for further information.