SALMON Health and Retirement is preparing for the recently-approved COVID-19 vaccine with the help of UMass Memorial Health Care.
The organization plans to vaccinate 700 residents and 1,500 staff members across their seven campuses throughout central Massachusetts starting on December 28th.
As part of the federal initiative, SALMON partnered with CVS Health to administer the vaccines. In conjunction with CVS staff, SALMON will be hosting vaccination clinics at their sites in an effort to vaccinate residents and staff working in their nursing homes, rest home and assisted livings. The vaccination is given in two stages that will be spread over three scheduled visits at each location. The entire process will take about six weeks. When completed those who have been vaccinated will better protect both staff members and residents against potential future outbreaks and save lives.
“Staff at UMass Memorial Health Care invited Director of Nursing on our Worcester campus, Nicole Croteau, to observe a drill they held in order to help prepare us for the vaccine clinic. They provided great guidance on how to run these clinics and what to expect,” says Director of Clinical Services for SALMON, Deborah Freedman.
With so little information available and deadlines approaching quickly, the insight gained through that observation will prove helpful in ensuring the vaccination efforts are successful.
“Our experience during the second wave of the pandemic has been much different than the first.” explains SALMON’s CEO, Matt Salmon. “Infection rates among our residents are much lower, we’re actually lower than community spread. This vaccination effort is another tool we have in fighting the spread of this terrible virus.”
While SALMON awaits further guidance from CVS Health and state players on the coordination of their December 28th clinic, “There is a light at the end of the tunnel. We’re hopeful,” says Freedman.
Since 1952, SALMON Health and Retirement has been serving Central Massachusetts. SALMON’s Beaumont at Worcester community became the nation’s first COVID-19 recovery center for seniors. To learn more about SALMON’s continuum of care with services on multiple campuses and the way in which the organization is fighting COVID-19 head-on, visit www.SalmonHealth.com or call (508)-366-3662.
