Kerr County slated to receive 1,200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine next week, officials say
Officials attribute delay and small vaccine dose numbers to state-wide vaccine shortage
Tags:
A medical staff prepares a syringe with the Sputnik-V COVID-19 at a vaccination center in Blida, south of Algiers, Algeria, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. The vaccines were delivered to the Boufarik military airport west of Algiers, Minister Amar Belhimeur said in a statement. He did not indicate how many arrived, though the government had said it had ordered a first batch of 500,000 Sputnik doses. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum) (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
KERRVILLE, Texas – After weeks of reaching out to state legislators and health organizations, Kerr County officials say the area is finally slated to receive more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Nursing home operators say once the coronavirus is in a community, it s nearly impossible to keep it out of their facilities.
As the COVID-19 death toll rises at long-term care facilities across McLean County and the country, some observers say many nursing homes aren t equipped to handle an infectious outbreak.
In late December, the Sugar Creek Alzheimer s Special Care Center in Normal was in the throes of a major COVID outbreak.
On Dec. 20, administrator Crystal Biddle sent a letter to all Sugar Creek families, informing them a majority of residents and some staff had tested positive for the coronavirus. The letter outlined the severity of the outbreak, and what staff are doing to care for residents. That includes frequent COVID testing, close monitoring and keeping residents hydrated.
The sense of relief and excitement was palpable last week as the local allotment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines arrived and healthcare workers were innoculated.
Due to initial limited supply recipients were prioritized, beginning first with frontline healthcare workers that included Kerrville Fire Department Emergency Medical Services crews, Peterson Health physicians and nurses, Kerrville State Hospital and Veterans Administration Hospital staff.
While the hospitals administered the vaccine shots themselves, H-E-B Pharmacist Amber Burress mobilized to vaccinate other healthcare workers including KFD, home health and hospice workers and other small healthcare providers.
âWe received 100 doses in our first shipment; and I will be delivering and administering vaccines over the next couple of days,â Burress said. âRight now, we are the only provider that I know of certified to distribute the vaccines to individuals.â
Peterson administers 500 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine dailytimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailytimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Christmas came a day early for some people â in the form of a shot in the arm at the local hospital.Â
In a second-floor room at Peterson Regional Medical Center, a festive mood prevailed early Thursday morning. Employees poured themselves coffee at a large beverage station, some got their pictures taken next to a life-size cutout of Will Ferrell dressed as an elf, and five vaccination tables were set up bearing decorations such as a small, lighted Christmas tree, giant nutcracker and candy canes.Â
A large screen on a wall bore a video of a Christmas tree near a wreath-decorated hearth with a flickering fire.