Announcement Comes on the Heels of USRC’s Request to Improve Efficiency of Vaccination for One of America’s Most Vulnerable Populations

Plano, Texas – U.S. Renal Care (USRC), a leading provider of dialysis services caring for more than 26,000 Americans living with kidney disease, applauds the Biden administration’s announcement that designates USRC’s 350 dialysis centers, and clinics operated by other dialysis providers, as COVID‐19 vaccination points‐of‐dispensing (PODs) which will immediately provide more efficient access to vaccine for people living with kidney and end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) and their frontline care staff.

“We’re extremely pleased that the Biden administration has decided to partner with dialysis centers to more efficiently get vaccine to our vulnerable patients and our staff,” said Mary Dittrich, MD, FASN and Chief Medical Officer of USRC. “The White House and CDC announcement will immediately reduce barriers that have impeded dialysis’ patients access to COVID‐19 vaccines. We’re greatly encouraged by the Biden administration’s action and extremely grateful for the CDC’s partnership to rapidly vaccinate dialysis patients and frontline caregivers, which will undoubtedly save lives.”

Data show that when dialysis centers distribute COVID‐19 vaccines, vaccination rates skyrocket. Distribution directly to dialysis centers will also help meet the President’s stated goals of fairness and equity in vaccine distribution. ESRD disproportionately impacts minority populations, who are extremely vulnerable to COVID‐19. ESRD prevalence is about 3.7 times greater in Black Americans, 1.4 times greater in Native Americans, and 1.5 times greater in Asian Americans when compared to white Americans. Dialysis clinics are also often located in hard‐to‐reach, rural communities throughout the country.

The announcement comes following last week’s request from USRC that the Administration expand COVID‐19 access to dialysis facilities.

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