Blossom residents get vaccine
Sandy Copestick
Bonnie McKenzie
Sandy Copestick
Bonnie McKenzie
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SALEM -- About 100 Blossom Nursing and Rehabilitation staff members and residents stepped up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday.
Megan Schardt, Regional Sales Director of Atrium Living Centers Inc., which operates Blossom, said the clinic went well and she knew of no allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine.
Plans called for monitoring the recipients the next few days to ensure everything was ok. Schardt had announced the scheduling of the clinic last week, saying it was giving the families, residents and staff member "a glimmer of hope."
This was the first of three COVID vaccine clinics to be held at Blossom through Walgreens. Walgreens sent eight staff members to administer the vaccines. After receiving the vaccine, each person was taken to another area to be watched for any immediate side effects, a press release said.
"The response was favorable and the vaccines were received with minimal side effects. A few recipients noted a minor headache or slight pain at the injection site, much like that commonly experienced with the influenza vaccination," Blossom Director of Nursing Lori Rusyn said in the press release.
Residents quoted by Blossom personnel appeared happy to get the vaccine. One resident named Lillian said she had been waiting for the vaccine and wanted to get it immediately. A resident named Pam was glad to be able to get the vaccine.
Another named John said he was relieved to be given the opportunity to get the vaccine, adding "COVID needs to go away."
The next clinic for staff and residents will be held Jan. 19. Schardt said previously that anyone who didn't partake at the first clinic would be able to get the vaccine at the next clinic, giving them the ability to get the second dose at the third clinic. Those who received the first dose at the first clinic can get the second dose at the next one.
Getting the vaccine is a two-step process requiring two injections about three weeks apart, she said. Receipt of the vaccine is voluntary for both staff and residents.
According to an email from Eric Bloom of Mercury LLC, on behalf of CommuniCare, COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be held at Salem North and Salem West healthcare centers on Dec. 30, with 112 at Salem North and 100 at Salem West, both through PharmScript. Both nursing homes are located on the east end of Salem and are part of the CommuniCare family of nursing facilities.