We recently held the last of our four scheduled COVID-19 vaccination clinics, resulting in the majority of our team members and residents being fully vaccinated, specifically:
- 95% of assisted living and Health Care Center residents
- 95.5% of independent living residents
“CLV is now one of the safest places to live,” stated John B. Henry, CLV’s executive director. “There are not too many places where one can interact with their neighbors knowing that over 95% of them have been vaccinated.”
We were among the first to schedule vaccination clinics because serving assisted living and health care residents met Maryland’s 1A priority status, according to its vaccine distribution plan. As early as Jan. 11, we had our first clinic vaccinating 272 individuals. Priority was given to residents and team members in assisted living and the Health Care Center, in accordance to regulations.
As additional vaccine clinics were scheduled, opportunities opened to vaccinate independent living residents and non-assisted living and health care teams. Additionally, rostered clergy from the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland is a member, were invited to be vaccinated at later clinics.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have sought ways to support our Lutheran brethren. Opening our vaccination clinics and providing disinfecting starter boxes to the Westminster Conference churches’ rostered leaders support the churches’ efforts to reopen for congregations to worship together and pastors to visit their congregant residents in our communities and perform front line work for the most vulnerable,” said Jeff Branch, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland, managing organization of CLV.
Walgreens administered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for all of our clinics. With the combined efforts of our team members and Walgreens, the clinics were conducted safely and smoothly, providing peace of mind and excitement to those who were vaccinated.
“The vaccine clinics and being vaccinated have really brought excitement to our residents. Even though we are still cautious and remain vigilant with safety protocols, their spirits have been lifted; they are starting to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel,” said Henry.
