Columbia senior living communities hold successful coronavirus vaccine clinics
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Residents at an assisted living community in Columbia received their second dose of a coronavirus vaccine -- while residents at two other communities got their first doses.
The residents and staff at Cedarhurst of Columbia got their second dose of the Moderna vaccine today.
Angie Keeven, chief wellness officer at Cedarhurst, vaccinated residents during the first clinic. She said workers were tracked residents for side effects but they were minimal. At-most, residents experienced a sore arm, Keeven said.
"It's a little bit more common to see side effects after the second dose of the vaccine," Keeven said. She added residents will be closely monitored after Friday.
Keeven said having the clinic in-house for staff and residents has been convenient for CVS workers, who administered the vaccine.
The Terrace Retirement Community worked with D&H Drugstore to put on an in-house clinic Friday. Just like Cedarhurst, Terrace residents and staff were able to receive a dose of the Moderna vaccine. In all, 115 people received their first dose.
Residents said the process went smoothly and that they have been waiting for this day to come.
"It could not have gone better," said Kay Kanger, resident at the Terrace. "It's so convenient to have it here and we were hoping they would be able to get it organized and they did."
The Village of Bedford Walk also held a vaccination clinic for residents and staff Friday afternoon. Facility officials said about 60 will receive a shot.
Mason Neff with the Village of Bedford Walk said it was a good day and many of the residents were looking forward to the event.
Across the state, 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 dose of vaccine but most of them are people in previous phases of the vaccine plan.
"The vaccine is the beginning of the end," Keeven said.
