San Diego, Calif. – St. Paul’s Senior Services is hosting COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout the month for their senior residents, along with essential workers, including doctors, nurses, and support team members. The first clinic was held at St. Paul’s McColl Health Center, a skilled nursing facility in the Banker’s Hill area of downtown San Diego on Dec. 30, 2020.
“St. Paul’s Senior Services is thrilled to start off the New Year with the COVID-19 vaccination for our seniors and our staff,” said Cheryl Wilson, St. Paul’s CEO. “Several weeks before the vaccination arrived, we implemented an internal educational campaign to educate staff and residents about the vaccine. As a senior care organization, we are experiencing an immense amount of pride and joy regarding this vaccination; 2020 has been tough, but there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel for our seniors and employees.”
St. Paul’s registered with CVS Pharmacy to host the vaccination clinics at their residential communities as part of the federal CDC Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care. There will be three clinics at each community.
California has prioritized frontline workers at hospitals, as well as residents and staff at skilled nursing communities and assisted living communities. There are 28,000 doses coming to San Diego County and everyone will need to receive two vaccinations, administered about one month apart.
“This is a true moment of hope for residents and caregivers in California’s long-term care facilities, such as St. Paul’s,” said LeadingAge California President and CEO Jeannee Parker Martin. “The COVID-19 vaccine will help us bring an end to the pandemic and ensure all California caregivers can provide safe, high-quality care.”
At the first clinic, 45 senior residents and 95 staff members at St. Paul’s received the (Pfizer) vaccine. The second vaccine will occur on Jan. 20, 2021.
Some family members have had additional questions but are still encouraging their loved ones to receive the vaccine. Almost 60% of employees have opted to receive the vaccine. St. Paul’s continues to educate about the benefits of the vaccine and strives to increase this percentage.
LeadingAge endorses the recommendation of the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices saying that older Americans and the long-term care staff supporting them – who have suffered most from the COVID pandemic – need to be among the first in line for life-saving vaccines. The lack of prioritization for older Americans and their care workers during the pandemic has cost too many lives. People age 65 and older have died from COVID-19 at shocking rates—over 80% of all deaths are among older adults.
St. Paul’s Senior Services employs almost 700 people, including nursing, facilities, social workers, administrative, dietary, housekeeping, among others, while St. Paul’s cares for more than 1,200 seniors throughout their four locations. Their goal is to have all their residents vaccinated soon.
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About St. Paul’s Senior Services
St. Paul’s Senior Services is a mission-driven San Diego non-profit and full-service senior care provider, offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing, a Child Care and Senior Day Care Program, and a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Since opening its doors in 1960, St. Paul’s serves as an innovator in the San Diego community with a reputation for exceptional care. For more information on St. Paul’s Senior Services, please visit www.StPaulsSeniors.org or call 1(619) 239-6900.
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