Arbor Terrace of Decatur residents joined thousands of other Georgia seniors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Photo provided by Arbor Terrace
By Asia Ashley
The COVID-19 vaccine couldn’t come soon enough for residents and staff of Arbor Terrace, an assisted living facility in Decatur which recently experienced an outbreak of the virus.
“We were really good up until Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving we had several residents and staff who ended up contracting the virus,” said David Stewart, resident care director for Arbor Terrace. “From Thanksgiving up until Christmas time, we had an outbreak and through the New Year.”
On Jan. 18, 44 of Arbor Terrace’s 48 residents, along with some staff members, received the vaccine onsite through a Walgreens travel clinic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine helps develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without having to contract the illness.
“We were all excited for it because we’ve been dealing with this for a good 9-10 months, so we were looking for something to help fight against the outbreak that we were having,” said Stewart.
Since the start of the public health pandemic in March 2020, Stewart said the facility implemented health safety protocols including frequent temperature checks, installation of an antiviral mist fogger, thorough cleanings, and required that personal protective equipment (PPE) be worn by staff and residents. Visitation was restricted for all non-care staff and family members and residents were confined to their rooms to avoid group gatherings. However, one of the first positive cases in the facility was traced to a resident and the resident’s private sitter, said Stewart.
Vaccination day was one that 94-year-old Carol Crumbley looked forward to as it provided her an opportunity to leave her room and have brief interactions with others.
“I wondered about [getting the vaccine] because of my age; then I thought, ‘Well, I’m here for a reason so if I need to take it, then I will get it,’” said Crumbley. “…I love talking to people and made a lot of friends here and I miss those friends. It was nice when we went down for our shots. I was able to see several other people that I had not seen in quite some time.”
Crumbley said she had no negative side effects with the vaccine, only a sore arm the following day; she encourages others—even her colleagues who opted out—to get the vaccine.
“I wish everyone could get it,” she said. “I know we’re not going to be normal right away. But at least we’ll know people are safe.”
Crumbley said she looks forward to seeing her family again and engaging with friends she’s made at Arbor Terrace.
“I would love to see my family again. I have a granddaughter and a great-grandson in Washington and they would love to come. But we talk and they’re doing fine and that’s all I can ask for is that everyone is well and healthy,” she said.
Arbor Terrace residents are expected to receive their second dose of the vaccine on Feb. 8. The facility plans to transition back to normal services and protocols after a series of negative COVID-19 test results from staff and residents.
“When our testing results for COVID come back multiple times where we have everyone we know not infected with the virus, we’ll start a reopening in phases,” said Stewart. “Right now, we’re still in the most restrictive but we’re hoping in the very near future that our tests will continue to return negative so we’ll be able to relax some of those restrictions.”
Long-term health facilities’ staff and residents were among the first groups allowed to receive the COVID-19 vaccine under Georgia Department of Public Health’s vaccination rollout plan.
According to Capitol News Beat Service, pharmacies and health clinics had given out more than 550,000 doses to Georgia nursing homes, hospitals and those at least 65-years-old as of Jan. 21, marking roughly half of the vaccines Georgia has received so far, said state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey.
That’s far short of the 2 million Georgians now eligible for the vaccine who will need two doses each.
Gov. Brian Kemp said officials will move “as quickly as we can” to distribute vaccines if Georgia’s current allotment of 120,000 doses per week increases under the Biden Administration.
“I can’t control the supply we’re getting,” Kemp said at a news conference Jan. 14. “But if we get more … we will do everything in our power to empower not only the government, but also private-sector partners to get this vaccine in people’s arms.”
While appointment slots are currently filled at most locations, DeKalb County Board of Health and several private entities including Publix, Kroger, Ingles, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens offer the vaccine to those eligible under the state’s rollout plan: first responders, healthcare workers, individuals ages 65 and older and their caregivers, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities.
Read the original story on TheChampionNewspaper.com.
