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Date: 1/26/2021
EASTHAMPTON – As part of the state’s coronavirus vaccine rollout, congregate care settings like Lathrop Retirement Communities have administered the first dose to individuals who live and work there.
Lathrop’s Director of Sales and Marketing Suzie Dickson Moyer told Reminder Publishing on Jan 18 that 225 residents and a large percentage of staff received their first vaccine shot.
Pharmacists from Walgreens are in charge of administering the vaccine. Individuals will receive their first or second shot on Feb. 8 and all of the second doses will be administered on March 1.
Moyer shared that as of the day after, no one had any significant reactions. People reported to her that they felt sore in their arm or had chills during the night.
“What we have seen is an incredible feeling that we turned a corner, that there is a sense of hope, there is an excitement that we have taken the first step,” said Moyer.
Lathrop has two types of housing – the Inn Apartments, which are for enhanced living, and townhomes.
She shared that there have been no positive cases in their Inn Apartments but there have been three positive cases in their townhomes. All three residents who tested positive have recovered.
“It is a testament to the residents who took this very seriously and a testament to the staff who were very cautious in their personal lives,” she said.
Now that the first dose has been rolled out, Moyer said the community will continue to take it step by step. She believes the first thing they will do after the second shot is given, is lift their restrictions on their dining so they can have community dining again and have more activities.
Although the vaccine rollout is constantly changing, the second phase is expected to begin in February which includes people with at least two comorbidities, individuals age 75 and older, residents and staff of public and private low income and affordable senior housing, early education and K-12 workers, transit, grocery, utility, food, agriculture, sanitation, public works, and public health workers, adults 65 and older, and individuals with one comorbidity.
The third phase scheduled to begin in April includes the general public. The full plan of the phased rollout is available at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-timeline-phase-overview.