Nursing homes throughout Western New York are beginning to vaccinate residents and workers against Covid-19, which has has killed more than 6,000 residents of nursing homes across the state.
Pharmacists from Walgreens gave shots to 150 residents who consented at Northgate Health Care Facility in Wheatfield and to about 100 workers on Tuesday, said Dawn Harsch, a spokeswoman for the McGuire Group chain of nursing homes. So far there has been more than a 90% acceptance rate for residents, Harsch said.
The Wheatfield facility was among the first to give the shots in the region this week as nursing homes roll out the vaccine over time. Six other McGuire Group nursing homes will administer vaccinations in future weeks.Â
Phase one of the vaccine rollout now includes more groups
Nursing homes have vaccine doses and now other groups can get the vaccine, including EMTs and funeral home workers. Author: Claudine Ewing Updated: 8:05 PM EST December 21, 2020
BUFFALO, N.Y. Nursing home residents and healthcare workers are known to be among the first to be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but they re not alone.
Other frontline workers are now being included, including funeral home directors and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
Nursing homes have already received vaccine doses, according to the Erie County Health Commissioner. Initial does have been delivered to hospitals and nursing homes, said Dr. Gale Burstein.