Columbia independent living facility gives first in-house coronavirus vaccine clinic

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Solstice Senior Living became the first independent living facility in Columbia to host a coronavirus vaccine clinic for its residents and workers Tuesday.

The event was put on by D&H Drugstore and Kilgore's Medical Pharmacy. The pharmacies took the vaccine doses they had on hand and combined them to ensure they could vaccine as many people as possible.

Jeff Wohlt with Solstice Senior Living said it was easier for residents to be vaccinated in-house rather than at a mass vaccination site.

"I have to thank Kilgore's and D&H for partnering up and coming together to get enough shots to take care of the majority of our residents," Wohlt said.

Seventy Moderna vaccine doses were administered Tuesday.

"Our biggest issue was getting residents with mobility issues to the sites for vaccines," Wohlt said. He said Solstice has a shuttle, but trying to maintain social distance in the vehicle would have been a challenge.

Wohlt said several residents have mobility issues.

Tanya Alberty with D&H Drugstore said the pharmacy will also be doing in-house clinics this week at The Terrace and Bedford Walk independent living facilities.

Alberty said D&H received doses Wednesday and began to schedule the clinics for this week.

She said older people were struggling to get signed up for vaccines and get to clinics.

"Many of then wouldn't have had access otherwise," said Alberty.

Boone County has struggled to vaccinate people in Tier 2 of Phase 1B of the state's coronavirus vaccine plan. Statewide about 10% of the overall population has received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to the state's coronavirus dashboard. Nearly 22,000 people in Boone County have received a first dose but most of them are people in previous phases of the vaccine plan.

A Boone Hospital Center representative told the Columbia Board of Education on Monday that the hospital has received no doses for the last few weeks.

After their doses, Solstice residents were taken to an observation area where they were closely monitored.

Solstice resident Caroline Harr said she was feeling good after getting the shot.

"It didn't hurt, I didn't have to wait very long, and they are busy getting everyone a shot that lives here at Solstice," Harr said.

Harr said she wouldn't have been able to stand in line at a mass vaccination site and this clinic was convenient for her.

There will be a second event in four weeks to give residents their second doses.

The Terrace and Bedford Walk plan for their in-house clinics to be on Friday.

Mason Neff with Bedford Walk confirmed that there clinic will be Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. They hope to vaccine around 70 people.

Laura Reynold with The The Terrace said their clinic will be Friday morning and they hope to vaccinate around 115 residents.