Some of the residents here finally got the first of their Covid vaccinations today.
Everyone 85 and older got a trip to the drugstore for their jabs. That surprised me. I assumed it would be done the way we get our flu shots every fall, that someone would come here to do it. It would be easier for everyone this way. But no. This time the arms had to be transported to the pharmacy. Apparently it had something to do with “points of contact,” whatever that is. The protocol dictated how many times the magic elixir could be moved, and the pharmacist was the end of the line.
It added up to 35 or 40 residents, which is about half. They were very excited. Some of them hadn’t been away from the building in years. Our oldest resident is 104. She was one of them. I thought it might be stressful and I think it was for a few, but most of them were into it. Some of the old dolls wore makeup and got dressed up for the occasion. Pretty cute.
The operation ran with military precision. The residence has two vans for moving us around, including one with a wheelchair lift. They ferried everyone back and forth, two or three at a time. It was hectic for the PSWs because everyone had to be up, dressed, fed and ready to go at relatively the same time. A lot of them prefer not to get out of bed much before 10 AM, so it can be a struggle to convince them to do otherwise. The staff here are particularly adept at organizing large-scale events, the annual summer barbecue being one of them. Those are times for “all hands on deck.” Sadly, it had to be scuttled last summer because of Covid. I wonder what will happen this year?
After months of news stories about the pros and cons of different vaccines, and supply and distribution problems, I think everyone, residents and workers alike, is just relieved that it’s finally happening. I know I am. The next group to get their outing to the pharmacy will be 70 to 85-year-olds, on March 25. No word yet on when the first ones will receive their second jab.
Apparently the front line workers here and I will go at the same time, later in April. Can’t wait.
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