Residents of the nursing home and supportive care unit at the Carleton-Willard Village retirement community on Old Billerica Road are expected to receive the initial dose of Covid-19 vaccine in two to three weeks, and at least some of the 300 staff also will be vaccinated at that time.
President and CEO Barbara Doyle explained that the vaccine is being supplied by the Lowell outlet of the pharmacy chain CVS under a public-private partnership that the federal government set up with nursing homes for free distribution.
Doyle said, under the agreement, CVS is responsible for operating a clinic at Carleton-Willard Village. “I hope we will have something by the end of the year or the first week in January,” she said. Either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine will be provided.
There are 179 eligible patients, Doyle said, and like the staff, they will not be required to accept the vaccination. “We are in the process of notifying families and staff, Doyle said. She hopes all the vaccine can be administered in one or two days’ time.
“Staff crosses over every part of the village, so it is in everyone’s best interest to do as many staff as possible,” said Doyle, “But the primary focus will be on essential workers and direct caregivers. We want to make sure all shifts are covered.”
“Residents who live independently are not part of this initial phase,” Doyle said. As soon as additional supplies become available, “we will work with those residents.”
Doyle said Carleton-Willard Village isn’t ready to announce specific plans for protocols after vaccinations. “It all depends on the choices that residents and staff make about receiving the vaccine,” she commented.
But she emphasized that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “is pretty clear that masks, social-distancing, and hand-washing will be maintained for an indefinite period, vaccine or not, until we reach herd immunity. But this is a very positive, hopeful start.”
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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