Current COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Posted on: December 23, 2020

Update 3-11-21:

Crest Services had a great response to the vaccine clinics held at our locations for our members and support staff. We want to share with you the great results thus far and update you on what comes next.

 

Vaccination Rate for our Members:
• 90.9% Cedar Rapids
• 52.6% Chariton
• 75% Harlan
• 71.6 % Des Moines
• All residents who wanted the vaccine have received both doses
• Ottumwa and Albert Lea sites are still awaiting their second dose


Vaccination Rate for our Team Members:
• 96.8% Cedar Rapids
• 61.1% Chariton
• 44.4% Harlan
• 47.9% Des Moines
• All staff who wanted the vaccine have received both doses
• Ottumwa and Albert Lea sites are still awaiting their second dose


There have been questions regarding how our new residents and team members receive the COVID-19 vaccine once the clinics have been completed.

• Crest Services is working with our local health departments and Pharmacies in providing the vaccine on an as needed basis to assure our compliance with this effort.

 

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Update 2-5-21

It is an exciting and uncertain time now that many of us have received our first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. There are many questions regarding what this means for American Baptist Homes of the Midwest’s (ABHM’s) residents, families, and staff. With the vaccination rolling out to our residents and staff, we are entering a promising new phase in ending this pandemic.

How COVID-19 response will change after vaccination:

Vaccines are powerful tools in the fight against COVID-19. We hope to see enough people vaccinated to greatly reduce the COVID-19 disease. Until that happens, everyone who has received one or both vaccine doses must continue to carry out the same preventive measures in the community as they did before vaccination. We will continue to encourage mask wearing, social distancing, cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, stay away from others when not feeling well and ALWAYS wash your hands.

Why infection control measures cannot change as soon as people are vaccinated:

Before the CDC or health department’s recommendations can change, we need to learn more about the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide after a full vaccine series is completed. We do not know if, or the rate at which, people may still get infected after they are vaccinated, or if they can spread the virus without feeling sick or having symptoms. Because not all members of the community have had COVID-19 or been vaccinated, many residents and health care workers may still be at risk for infection. Until we know that vaccinated health care workers and residents cannot spread the virus to others, the following measures should be followed.

Do I still isolate or quarantine?

At this point, isolation and quarantine recommendations for health care workers and residents have not changed, even if the person has received one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This includes quarantine for health care workers and residents after an exposure, and residents after admission to the facility.

Do I have to wear a face mask?

Until more data is collected and the CDC updates its guidance, all health care workers and residents must continue to take the same preventive measures they did prior to vaccination (i.e., wearing a mask in the community, social distancing, hand hygiene). These measures are intended to protect others as well as yourself. ABHM Staff must continue to follow current state and federal guidelines for use of personal protective equipment when working.

If I had my vaccine do I still need to test?

Testing will continue as currently recommended by state or federal guidelines, regardless of vaccination status for individual residents or health care workers.

➢Test all residents and health care workers with symptoms.

➢Continue routine testing of health care workers at the frequency dictated by the percentage of people in the county who test positive for the virus among those who have been tested overall (positivity rate).

➢Perform outbreak testing when a new COVID-19 infection is found in a resident or health care worker to help stop the spread.

Will I still be screened for COVID-19?

Screening residents, health care workers, and visitors for signs and symptoms of illness will continue after vaccination. There have been no changes to recommendations for screening for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in health care facilities.

Will visitation still be restricted or limited?

Visitation with friends and family is very important. We are hopeful that the local, state and federal health departments, as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) decrease the restriction and change the guidance around visitation.

Remember to encourage everyone to get vaccinated!

Please feel free to contact the administrator and/or ABHM at COVID-19Vaccine@abhomes.org

 

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Update 1/15/21:

We are preparing for the COVID-19 vaccination and details are rapidly developing. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below for more information about the vaccine. Our Crest Services locations are registered for the vaccine, which includes our members and staff.

Below you will find the break-out of information regarding the vaccine, vaccine provider, and vaccination updates by each Crest Services location.

Albert Lea:
In communication with local public health, more information to come.

Cedar Rapids:
Vaccine provider: CVS
Vaccination Date: Initial Dose January 21st, 2021 for both members and staff. Second dose February 11th, 2021.

Chariton:
Vaccine provider: Department of Public Health
Date: First round completed January 12th, 2021. Second round January 19th, 2021.

Des Moines:
Vaccine provider: Walgreens
Vaccination Date: Initial dose January 26th, 2021 for both members and staff. 
Second dose February 16th, 2021.

Harlan:
Vaccine provider: Department of Public Health
Vaccination Date: Initial dose for staff was December 31st, 2021 and second dose was January 6th, 2021.  Members will be vaccinated on January 21st, 2021.

Ottumwa:
No updates yet.


Crest Services is preparing for these clinics by doing the following:

➢Working with our pharmacy to implement the vaccine clinic when ready.
➢Educating on the vaccine.
➢Gathering authorizations for the vaccine from staff.

 

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

Is the vaccine safe?

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC)] review vaccine safety data. For COVID-19, ACIP has formed a separate Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) to provide timely evaluation of vaccine safety, both pre- and post-licensure.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is adding further monitoring programs to health care workers to analyze results six weeks after vaccination.  Long-term Care is required to report all vaccinations through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Most adverse side effects occur within six weeks of vaccine administration, and the FDA has required eight weeks of safety monitoring so it can track any side effects.  FDA advises a minimum of 3,000 participants to assess safety. The current phase 3 trials have 30,000 to 50,000 participants. This really demonstrates how safety is a top priority for the FDA and the medical community.

Is ABHM requiring employees and their residents to take the vaccine?

Staff and residents are not required to take the vaccine.

Will personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines be relaxed if the staff, residents and members are vaccinated?

Until ABHM knows the effectiveness of the vaccine, PPE guidelines will not be relaxed.

Is the vaccine one dose or a series?

The two initial vaccines projected for release are two-dose series vaccines and are not interchangeable. It’s important you schedule your second dose while getting your first dose because your booster must be from the same manufacturer.

Why can’t I have the vaccine now when others are receiving it?

At this time, there is not enough vaccine for everyone requesting it. Our state health departments are working with Walgreens or CVS to distribute the vaccine to those most at risk, including those living in long-term care facilities.

The best way to prevent COVID-19 is by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing your hands frequently.

If I already contracted COVID-19, do I need a vaccination?

ABHM is recommending all residents and employees get the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they have recovered from a previous COVID-19 infection. According to the CDC, there is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again. This is called natural immunity. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed for a better understanding.  

Does insurance cover the vaccine?

Private health insurance companies, as well as government insurance programs like Medicare, will cover the vaccination cost.  You will need to have your insurance information when getting your vaccine.

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine:  Is It for You?

Travis LaCore, PharmD, BCGP, NREMT, FF2 – ABHM Subject Matter Expert of Pharmacy

A COVID-19 vaccine has the potential to bring the pandemic to an end at a greater speed than any other intervention available.  Vaccination will provide protection to an individual and reduce the chances of spreading as more people get the vaccine. 

Despite the potential benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine to drastically reducing the spread of infection, there remains a high level of apprehension among the public regarding the safety of the vaccine.  Although the development of a COVID-19 vaccine has been rapid, the research and development on a coronavirus vaccine is not new, nor are the methods used to produce the vaccine.  The vaccine approval process also remains fundamentally unchanged and must include strong evidence of vaccine safety and effectiveness. Research and development of coronavirus vaccines date as far back to 2002 and 2012, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak of 2002, and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak of 2012. Researchers directed the development of the COVID-19 vaccine utilizing the prior research on these outbreaks.  One type of vaccine being developed, the mRNA vaccine, is a type of vaccine that has not been used in the US vaccine market previously, however it has been researched for decades in other areas such as cancer treatments.

The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a 2-dose series, with an estimated effectiveness rate of 95% at 28 days after the initial dose.   The most common adverse reactions reported were injection site reaction, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever, which are common reactions with any vaccine. 

The next COVID-19 vaccine to be considered for an FDA EUA is the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which is scheduled to be reviewed by the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on December 17, 2020.

For questions and concerns about the vaccines, please contact your health care provider.

 

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ABHM has set up a designated email address to best respond to any questions, comments, or concerns specifically related to the COVID-19 vaccine:  COVID-19Vaccine@abhomes.org

 

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Previous COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Posted on: December 23, 2020

A message from Crest Service Director Jan Caldwell (COVID-19 Update–April 30, 2020):

Posted on: April 30, 2020

Previous Crest Services Covid-19 Updates

Posted on: April 21, 2020

Crest Services prior Covid-19 articles are located here.


VIDEO: Crest Services Thank You’s

Posted on: February 20, 2017  | Filed Under: In the Community

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