First doses of COVID-19 vaccine bring hope to Grand Rapids senior living home – MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI The dining room of the senior living facility, which has mostly been empty since the start of the pandemic, was busy with activity again.

Music played over speakers, loud conversations filled the room and pharmacists drew dose after dose of the Moderna vaccine from small vials.

Over 200 residents and staff of a Grand Rapids senior living facility received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday. The vaccinations followed several recent coronavirus cases at the residential building.

Everyones excited and hopeful that this is a step in the right direction, said Beth Covault, executive director of Samaritas Senior Living Grand Rapids.

Samaritas partnered with CVS to vaccinate its staff and residents at The Woods building, 1900 32nd St. SE.

Sue Spielmaker, a licensed practical nurse with Samaritas, received her first dose at the temporary vaccination clinic. It took about two minutes for a pharmacist to put fresh gloves on, sanitize her arm and give her a long-awaited shot.

I feel wonderful, she said immediately after.

Spielmaker was then handed a chocolate Kiss from a basket that said kiss COVID goodbye.

9

Direct care workers, residents, staff receive COVID-19 vaccine at senior living facility

Healthcare workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities like The Woods are high on the list for vaccinations. In Michigan, they are a part of the first phase which started at the end of December.

Its been an eventful year, said Covault. This is just such a positive experience. Everyone seems more refreshed, energized.

RELATED: Ottawa County says current COVID-19 vaccine allotment isnt cutting it

The stress of the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the staff and residents of The Woods, said Covault. The building recently had a wave of cases, and it can be difficult for residents with cognitive impairments to social distance and remain isolated.

Jill Schrotenboer, the administrator of The Woods, said its been a long, hard 10 months at their facility but the vaccine brings hope.

It was quite emotional for me to see them get it, said Schrotenboer, who has worked with Samaritas for more than two decades.

Strict restrictions have only allowed residents to see their families with outdoor or window visits, which has been heartbreaking, but the vaccine takes a step forward in bringing families back together, Covault said.

RELATED: 10,000 veterans and healthcare workers vaccinated at Ann Arbor VA hospital

The Woods also stopped all in-person dining, programming and activities when COVID-19 hit. Schrotenboer is looking forward to residents being able to congregate and mingle again.

I hope that (the vaccine) will allow us to get back to what is kind of normal, she said.

Both Schrotenboer and Covault said the vaccine shows theres a light at the end of the tunnel.

Michigan also recently started allowing anyone over the age of 65 to sign up for a vaccination as well as expanded categories of frontline workers like teachers, corrections staff and workers at homeless shelters.

The state is aiming to vaccinate 70% of the state by the end of the year. About 800,000 Michigan residents have been vaccinated to date, which is about 8% of the nearly 10 million residents.

To register for a vaccine, visit vaccinatewestmi.com.

More on MLive:

57% of Michigan nursing home staff, residents decline COVID-19 vaccine so far

9 retired nuns die from COVID-19 in January at Adrian home

Whitmer says high school sports may happen in the coming weeks or days during interview

See the original post:

First doses of COVID-19 vaccine bring hope to Grand Rapids senior living home - MLive.com