Dec 31, 2020—The Kendal at Oberlin community ended 2020 on a positive note, with residents and staff receiving their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Pharmacists from Walgreens arrived with the first round of coronavirus vaccines for Kendal residents and staff Dec. 30. Residents of the Life Plan Community have been sheltering-in-place since March.
A total of 337 residents were scheduled for vaccinations Dec. 30 and 31. The first resident to receive round one of the Pfizer vaccine was Priscilla Steinberg. Round two will be administered on January 20.
A total of 337 residents were scheduled for vaccinations Dec. 30 and 31. The first resident to receive round one of the Pfizer vaccine was Priscilla Steinberg. Round two will be administered on January 20.
Quinn Barbee, Facility Services, was the first of 110 staff slated for inoculations Dec. 31. In addition, more than 50 other staff already are signed up for vaccinations Jan. 21, and that number is expected to grow rapidly.
With relatively short notice, Kendal at Oberlin’s Health Services team organized procedures and appointments for hundreds of residents and staff wanting the vaccine. Forms were sent in advance, and clinic staff took care of screening while residents waited in a safely distanced line and insurance staff was on hand to answer questions about the forms.
Then, once inside the Auditorium, the registration and administration of the vaccinations went like clockwork. Staff and Walgreens’ pharmacists worked together to get the work completed quickly.
Medical Director and Kendal physician Georgia Newman, M.D., received her first dose of vaccine Dec. 30. “It is the single most important thing I can do for Kendal, my community, the country and the world,” she said.
Medical Director and Kendal physician, Georgia Newman, MD, also received her first dose of the vaccine Dec. 30. According to Newman, you are “just as likely to have a reaction to this shot, as you are to the flu shot. That’s less likely than being hit by lightning.”
Dr. Newman noted that someone getting a coronavirus vaccination is no more likely to have a reaction to it than they are to a flu shot, adding “That’s less likely than being hit by lightning.”
That said, with an abundance of caution, vaccine recipients were asked to have a seat in the dining room for 15 minutes after the shot, just to be sure no one had one of those rare reactions. While waiting, staff were asked to write down the reasons they wanted to get the vaccine.
“This week, we took a significant step toward a post-pandemic world,” said Chief Health Services Officer Stacy Terrell.
