“We are pleased to be able to offer the COVID-19 vaccine first to our residents and staff”, said Doug Wright, President and CEO. “Our residents are at such a high risk of getting sick, being hospitalized, or passing away from COVID-19. Our Caregivers live in the community where the virus continues to spread, and yet despite the circumstances, they continue to risk their lives caring for our most vulnerable. This vaccine has been shown to provide a great deal of protection against the virus and will save lives.”
The Community Living Center will continue to follow all necessary precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing, to ensure the utmost safety.
“We are grateful that federal and state officials designated long term care residents and staff as a priority for the first phase of distribution for the vaccine,” continued Wright. “This has been a very challenging year for our staff, our residents, and their loved ones. With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise within our community, we know there is still a long road ahead. However, we are encouraged that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found the vaccine to be safe and effective. We are hopeful that we can being to put this pandemic behind us and look ahead to brighter days.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should residents and staff get vaccinated? The vaccine will save lives. Our residents have a much higher risk for getting very sick, being hospitalized, or passing away from COVID-19, and our staff frequently come in and out of our buildings. The vaccine has been shown to provide a great deal of protection against serious illness due to COVID-19.
When will you begin administering the vaccine? We will be administering the vaccine to residents and staff in our on-site clinic area. The clinic area will allow for social distancing of patients and staff receiving vaccination. Each vaccination will have a 15-minute observation time to monitor for any potential reactions.
Who if your pharmacy partner? Per our state’s distribution plan, we will be administering the vaccine through our pharmacy partners CVS and Wal-Greens.
Will the facility re-open after the vaccine has been administered? We have already re-opened some visitation. We will continue to work with public health officials to determine how/when to adjust the guidelines for visitations.
Is there a cost to residents and staff to be vaccinated? Residents and staff will not have to pay to receive the vaccine.
How are you handling those who don’t want to get vaccinated? The vaccine will be a lifesaving turning point in the fight against COVID-19. Each resident, or their health care decision maker, and staff will have the power to decide whether they wish to receive the vaccine.