12/15/2020
December 15, 2020
Dear Resident/Family Members,
By now you have probably learned that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is approved and ready for distribution to the healthcare workers and residents in long term care. We have partnered with Walgreens, and they will be coming to our facility to vaccine patients as a priority, and if supplies allow, staff will also be vaccinated. We are anticipating Walgreens will begin their vaccination clinic at Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing this month. We have long awaited this exciting news.
We understand that some of you may be concerned about the safety of these new vaccines, as they have been developed and tested far more quickly than those in the past. We have been assured from many of our healthcare partners that the speed with which these vaccines were developed is not due to skipping important safety steps, but rather the result of focused, collaborative work performed by experts across the globe. Vaccines approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have undergone the same level of rigorous testing for safety and efficacy as other vaccines, and have been tested in tens of thousands of people, including older adults. Two independent advisory committees of experts from academic institutions also monitor vaccines to ensure their safety.
Most of the COVID-19 vaccines require two separate doses given about three or four weeks apart, depending on the vaccine. As described above, initially we will be receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Participants of their clinical trials have reported experiencing short-term side effects after being vaccinated, with more pronounced discomfort after the second dose. These possible side effects include headache, muscle pains, fatigue, chills, fever and pain at the injection site. Sometimes there is misunderstanding about the cause of these reactions, as you may have heard someone say a vaccine has “made them sick” or given them the disease that the vaccine was intended to prevent. The COVID-19 vaccine cannot give you a COVID-19 infection. The vaccine works by helping the body create antibodies to fight off the virus. Feeling discomfort after getting the vaccine means that the vaccine is doing its job and your body is making antibodies. This week we will be distributing fact sheets along with the consent form required to be completed prior to vaccination. All residents must complete a consent form, signed by themselves or by their responsible party, in order to be scheduled to receive the vaccine.
I encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, its possible side effects, and what to expect after you or a loved one receives it. Please know that the safety and wellbeing of our residents have been and remain our top priority. We are confident that the worldwide, unprecedented scientific achievement of these COVID-19 vaccines will eventually enable to us enjoy life with our loved ones again. We look forward to doing our part in this effort by getting the COVID-19 vaccine, and hope you will join us.
Sincerely,
Administration
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