SWFL assisted living residents getting first COVID-19 vaccine doses

Many Southwest Florida nursing homes have already received the COVID-19 vaccine. This week, assisted living residents will get their first shot.

Staff and residents at the Life Care Center of Estero, for instance, got vaccinated back in December, along with hundreds of other nursing homes. Now it’s time for the second dose, and that clinic is happening Monday.

The Life Care Center is one of many locations that are part of the Florida Healthcare Association. The group says the first dose went smoothly, thanks to a partnership between pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. As many nursing homes prepare for the second round, assisted living facilities are gearing up for the first, a sign of hope for many people who have been separated from their loved ones for months.

“We want them to be able to have group gatherings, church services, synagogue, birthday parties, dining with their friends in a group setting,” said Kristen Knapp with the FHA. “All of those things had to be put on hold during the pandemic to make sure that we kept them protected.”

Some people were confused about the timeline for these vaccinations.  When Gov. Ron DeSantis made his vaccination plan announcement early on, he made it clear nursing homes would go first, then assisted living would follow. Anyone in independent living does not fall into this priority category.

“Some were apprehensive in the first round,” Knapp said. “For our initial vaccine clinics, many of them happen just before Christmas. So no one really knew what to expect with this vaccine, with what side effects you might have. I think we are seeing more of our staff getting vaccinated; we will see our numbers increase in the second dose clinics with additional staff getting the vaccine.”