Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol was one of the first nursing homes in Worcester County to conduct a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for its residents and staff with CVS/Omnicare pharmacy, Assistant Administrator Michael Kachadoorian said.
“Nursing homes across the state have been paired with a pharmacy — CVS or Walgreens — and back in the fall when this program was announced, QVH signed up for it immediately,” he said. “We were notified of our clinic date of Dec. 28 just before the Christmas holiday.”
Quabbin Valley Healthcare had been unaffected by the pandemic in the spring, summer and fall, but had its first outbreak in early December.
“It is a very difficult situation emotionally to have come so far without any cases and then have an outbreak of both residents and staff,” Kachadoorian said. “Knowing the clinic was on its way and just three weeks out from our outbreak was heart-wrenching. The family of residents and staff at the facility mean a lot to all of us. It’s a close-knit community and the overwhelming support from our neighbors has been extraordinary. The emotional toll this is taking on everyone, across the nursing home industry and across the country, is a heavy one. We have bonds with each and every person who entrusts us with their care — we are neighbors taking care of neighbors.”
On Monday, seven pharmacists arrived with the vaccine and close to 75 percent of the residents were eligible to receive their first dose, he said. Almost 100 percent consented but could not receive it at this time for one reason or another — some will be eligible when CVS returns on Jan. 18 for the second round for most and that’s when those who didn’t get one this time will get their first dose. More than 50 percent of the staff were vaccinated, and others will be able to on Jan. 18 as well. A third clinic will be scheduled for February.
Licensed Practical Nurse and Unit Manager Jess McGivern and Peter Gartland, a long-standing resident, were the first two to receive the shot simultaneously.
“They agreed to have the shot at the same time, a very special moment for all of us to witness,” Kachadoorian said. “This is the first step in what we hope, over time, will be the end of this pandemic. We all still have a long way to go, but this was an historic first step at Quabbin Valley Healthcare.”
Twenty-seven residents and 19 staff members tested positive with COVID-19 and eight deaths were reported there over the two weeks.
“It was such a great experience for everyone,” Poet’s Seat Health Care Center co-owner and Administrator Michele Carney said. “The day went wonderfully. The medical staff and administrators went first, so that inspired most others to take it. We made sure we educated everyone about it ahead of time.”
Carney said 16 pharmacists and technicians arrived at the nursing home on High Street in Greenfield from Walgreens pharmacy on Monday morning to administer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination.
Forty-five of its 46 residents received the vaccine — one refused — as did 20 staff members and five “regular” outside support staff. Carney and Dr. Joseph Viadero, the medical director at the facility, were the first to be vaccinated.
“Walgreens was wonderful,” she said. “There were enough people from there so that there could be two in every room as they vaccinated residents, and they waited 15 minutes in each room to make sure everyone who received it was fine.”
Carney said the experience was uplifting. She said she and Viadero strongly believe the vaccine is the only way the virus will be eradicated over time.
“I’m so glad we got to be part of history, the history of healing,” she said.
Carney said Walgreens will return on Jan. 18 to administer the second dose and 34 more staff members will receive it the first dose. She said nine staff members refused the vaccine, but she and others are attempting to “change their minds.”
“We decided to stagger when the staff got it so we could be sure there were no problems,” Carney said. “We want to make sure we can deliver consistent care to our residents.
On Feb. 8, the second group who receive their first dose in January will receive their second dose. “We’re looking forward to things turning around,” Carney said.
She said the nursing home had more than 30 positive COVID-19 cases in the 63-bed facility in the spring with 19 deaths reported, it has done much better during the second local surge of the disease, reporting no cases. She said she hopes the vaccine will stop the virus at the door.
The residents and staff of Farren Care Center in Montague City are scheduled to receive their vaccines today.
Spokeswoman Christine Looby said everyone who lives or works at the facility will have the opportunity to be vaccinated.