ANN ARBOR, MI – Dosages of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine were administered to residents and employees of Samaritas Affordable Living at Ann Arbor’s Sequoia Place on Friday as part of the senior unit’s first vaccination clinic.
As the state of Michigan moves on to the next phase of its vaccination efforts, some institutions for the elderly are administering their first doses. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources said that approximately 91,000 employees and residents of Michigan nursing homes across the state are eligible for this round.
Related: COVID-19 vaccinations begin at Michigan’s long-term care facilities; first round targets 91,000
At Samaritas in Ann Arbor, Eden Winter was among 40 residents on 8 January who decided to receive the injection. She said she was a little hesitant, but finally decided that the injection could not be worse than getting the virus.
“If I’m immune, I can visit my family in Illinois again,” said Winter. “My daughter, my grandchildren, three of my sisters are there and I haven’t seen them since it all started. We have video chats, but I want to embrace them. “
It has been difficult to live in Samartis for the past nine months, Winter said, adding that some residents have been able to handle isolation better than others.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m depressed, you know, you have that feeling of not wanting to clean up or not having any motivation, but I think that will help,” said Winter.
Winter and other residents who came to the unit’s common room to attend the vaccination clinic said they missed using the cardio machine in the corner of the room and being able to socialize freely with other residents.
“I’m thrilled that we were able to do this because we didn’t really expect it so soon,” said Cheryl Khos, director of marketing for Samaritas, who was one of several members of the team to receive the injection. “This is one of our most active communities, where we have many families who come, but we have some whose community here is your family. For them not to be able to get together and do things, it has been very difficult. “
Even with 40 of the 54 residents who live in the facility opting to get the vaccine, officials said it was too early to know when mitigation efforts, such as social distance and wearing masks, would be reduced.
Samaritas, a nonprofit religious health and human services agency serving more than 20,000 people across the state, has partnered with Walgreens to administer the vaccine at clinics on its premises.
The facility’s next vaccination clinic is scheduled for February 5, officials said.
READ MORE FROM ANN ARBOR NEWS:
Bomber Restaurant de Ypsilanti receives financial incentive from the Barstool Fund
Man faces terrorism charges after threats to Michigan legislator, Capitol building
Michigan reports 3,625 new cases of coronavirus, 38 new deaths
Governor Whitmer reiterates calls to the feds to send more coronavirus vaccines
Lawsuit accuses University of Michigan professor of ‘racist, misogynistic and xenophobic behavior’