December 21, 2020 —A somewhat lengthy update for you today, but, since the last one, things have been quiet here on campus.
However, the holiday season has not slowed the pace of all things COVID-related. The CDC and the State are offering many educational sessions about the vaccine roll out to make sure we are ready. Our skilled nursing residents are scheduled for January 4th, and we are hopeful that with the approval of the Moderna vaccine that Assisted Living residents will be eligible shortly after that.
This Wednesday we are offering a webinar to all staff to provide education and answer questions about the vaccine. Staff will also be eligible for vaccination starting January 4th. We are vaccinating all staff who request the vaccine in two phases so that we won’t be crippled if a lot of staff suffer side effects at the same time.
Several residents have asked why vaccination is not mandatory for staff. We are being told by the Department of Health that because the vaccines are currently approved on an emergency use basis they cannot be made mandatory. This may change as more data is collected on the effectiveness and side effects of the vaccines. We don’t have any information yet about vaccine availability for Independent Living residents. This will depend on the number of doses available and how New York prioritizes access among priority groups.
Locally, active cases are on the rise here in Tompkins County, with 14 hospitalizations. On campus, we have one positive employee with no resident exposure, so the status of re-starting visitation remains on track for tomorrow. A few staff members will be returning to work shortly.
Be well, Laurie and Betsy