Nursing home residents hopeful as Covid-19 vaccine distribution continues

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)– Nursing home residents have a new glimmer of hope after months of isolation during the pandemic.

“They are ready for it, the moment we first mentioned it was coming, I’ve had a couple that’s been chasing every day wanting to sign their authorization to get theirs,” Administrator at Ascension Oaks Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Brett Arceneaux said.

Tonja Myles is a mental wellness specialist who has worked with many people struggling with isolation during the pandemic.

“The isolation has been horrendous, a lot of them probably see this as a step in the right direction,” Myles said.

Myles herself has a loved one in a nursing home and says its important to inform nursing home residents about the vaccine by discussing it with them.

“Many times they hear they are the most vulnerable population in the group and that puts a fear in them and I’ve had to reassure him that his safety, his health is our number one thing,” Myles said.

For people above the age of 70 vaccinations will require an appointment.

The Department of Health stresses that only a limited supply of 10,000 doses will be available this week for those newly eligible. On Monday, LDH will announce which pharmacies will be administering doses so people can begin trying to make appointments.

ORIGINAL: The coronavirus has impacted a countless number of people and those most vulnerable will now get the chance to get the vaccine.

According to reports, a large amount of the shipment is going to be distributed to CVS and Walgreens stores who have signed onto a partnership with the federal government to start administering the vaccine to Louisiana long term care facilities.

The main focus will be getting those living in long-term care facilities or nursing homes taken care of first starting Monday morning.

In Louisiana, the virus has killed more than 2,000 residents living in about 270 nursing homes.

About 35,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, almost half of the total 79,000 that are being delivered, will go to CVS and Walgreens where they can begin vaccinations that include 23,000 residents of the nursing homes across the state.

According to a statement from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), it will take a few weeks to complete the first of the two-dose series for all facilities, but officials are excited to get the vaccine out to those hit hard by COVID-19.