Long-term care facilities prepare for potential COVID-19 vaccine
A potential vaccine for COVID-19 is a sign of hope for many, including long term care facilities.
and last updated 2020-12-14 21:56:13-05
TAMPA, Fla. â A potential vaccine for COVID-19 is a sign of hope for many, including long term care facilities.
Federal and state leaders have emphasized frontline healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents should be prioritized once a vaccine is available. Right now, theyâre preparing for when doses may be headed to them.
âItâs the best tool to be able to keep them safe and certainly going to be the easiest way for them to get back to some semblance of normalcy because itâs been very difficult for them over the last several months and trying to keep them safe from COVID. So we really see this as a shining star of hope for all of our residents and staff,â said Bonnie Williamson, the assistant director of compliance for SenCare Manageme
Sheâll roll up her sleeve.
âI am going to get the vaccine myself. They can take as many pictures as they want,â she said. âI will be the equivalent of the queenâs taster.â
Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, knows that one of the things mostly likely to convince people to take a new vaccine is seeing someone they know and respect get it.
âI want to be an influencer,â said Katzmann, who is 64 and has high blood pressure, a risk factor for more severe COVID-19. âI want to encourage people to do it.â
Richard Feifer, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Kennett Square-based Genesis HealthCare, the nationâs largest nursing home group, said he and other top executives plan to take similar steps to encourage their staff members to get the shot.