Update form Administrator – December 14, 2020
December 14, 2020
Dear Families,
We hope we find you safe and healthy,
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found a COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective, and our facility will be able to give the vaccine to residents. This is very encouraging news.
Our first vaccine clinic is scheduled for January 7, 2020 and our second is scheduled for January 28th from 10 am to 4pm, we are required to have a signed consent form for the pharmacy to administer the vaccine to your loved one. As soon as we have the exact details of getting the consent forms to you and back to us, we will let you know. There are no costs to get the vaccine.
Consent forms will be email and mailed out by the end of this week, If we do not have the signed consent form in advance, they may not administer the vaccine. Therefore, it is imperative that we receive the consent back ASAP in order to include your loved one in the order.
We encourage as many residents as possible to get this vaccine. As we have learned, the elderly and those with significant health concerns have a much higher risk for getting very sick, being hospitalized, or succumbing from COVID-19. The vaccine has been shown to provide a great deal of protection against serious illness due to COVID-19. The more residents that get vaccinated, the better we can protect our community against potential outbreaks and save lives.
This vaccine has gone through testing and clinical trials to ensure it meets the highest safety standards. It also is safe to get if you already had the virus. The health and safety of our residents is always our top priority, and we are confident this vaccine is a much better option than the risk of getting this virus. Please read the attached (or linked) EUA fact sheet and contact 203-459-5152 Kayla Duvall, Interim DNS with any questions.
Potential side effects are listed on the fact sheet. You will find that these side effects are similar to the potential side effects of the flu shot, but they occur more frequently. The vaccine requires two doses. Residents will need to get both doses to ensure the best results. The second dose will be given approximately 21 to 28 days after the first dose. We will continue to take all necessary precautions after the vaccine is administered, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing, to ensure the safety of our residents and staff. We will also work with public health officials to determine how and when to adjust our policies for visitations and social activities and keep you updated.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are hopeful that the vaccine will be a lifesaving turning point in the fight against COVID-19. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
You may also visit several websites listed below to learn more about the vaccine.
AMDA: FAQs about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PALTC Staff, Patients, Residents and Family Members http://paltc.org/sites/default/files/QA%20about%20the%20COVID-19%20Vaccine%20for%20PALTC%20Patients%20Family%20Member%20and%20Staff%20_%2012_1_20%20FINAL.pdf
CDC: About COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/about-vaccines.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/covid-conversations/answering-questions.html
CDC: Understanding the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program and Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/long-term-care/pharmacy-partnerships.html
ZOOM CALLS FOR THIS WEEK:
• Tomorrow 12/15/2020 at 4pm
• Friday, 12/18/2020 at 11am
We ask that you please join us for at least one of the meetings as we have MANY updates for you, and we would like to discuss the current COVID situation at Maefair.
Please see below for the ZOOM meeting invitations and how to join using global meet by phone.
Visitation Update
Governor Baker recently rolled back many restrictions within the Commonwealth due to the increase in community spread. With that in mind, nursing home visitation has been impacted to meet the below guidelines:
• Once a center has a Staff member or Resident test positive for COVID-19, our entire center is required to place a pause on INDOOR visitation for a 14-day period.
o This means ONLY outdoor or Alternative visits are permitted.
o NO indoor visits are allowed until the 14-Day Quarantine is up.
• Any time a positive test is determined, the 14-Day Quarantine will begin again.
• This also affects activities and the use of our dining room. During an “outbreak,” no communal dining and activities may take place.
Our current situation is: 14-day Quarantine,
Outside & “Alternative” Visits
Please know that outside and “alternative” visitations will continue. While the weather is changing, we will work to continue to do outside visits on our patio for as long as possible and window visits are still possible. The weather seems to be holding steady for now.
Remember that we do offer iPads for our residents to use for video visits, phone calls, etc. to ensure that you and your loved ones remain in contact, as best as you can during these very uncertain times.
We are reminding our staff to not only practice safeguards against COVID in our center, but to be vigilant outside of our center and share these practices with their friends and loved ones. We still ask you to do your part while in your community and PLEASE wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. And please promote these very simple precautions with your extended family and friends.
**A SPECIAL THANK YOU, to Karen Soucy and family, the Frenchtown Elementary School families, and the Trumbull community, for their very big donation of Christmas and Holiday decorations. Our building is bursting with holiday cheer!
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
Rita Lynch, Administrator & the Maefair Team
https://athenahealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Pfizer-BioNTech-COVID-19-Vaccine-EUA-Fact-Sheet-for-HCP_0.pdf