We recognize that this has been an extremely challenging year for long term care staff and residents, as well as their loved ones. It is very encouraging that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found a COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective.
We are pleased to be able to give the vaccine to residents and our staff. Residents and staff will not have to pay to receive the vaccine. We encourage as many residents and staff as possible to get this vaccine.
The elderly population has a much higher risk for getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19. The vaccine has been shown to provide a great deal of protection against serious illness due to COVID-19. The more of us that get vaccinated, the better we can protect our families and our community against potential outbreaks. We can save lives.
We understand that some of you may be concerned about the safety of these new vaccines, as they have been developed and tested far more quickly than those in the past. We want to assure you that the speed with which these vaccines were developed is not due to skipping important safety steps, but rather the result of focused, collaborative work performed by experts across the globe. Vaccines approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have undergone the same level of rigorous testing for safety and efficacy as other vaccines, and have been tested in tens of thousands of people, including older adults. Two independent advisory committees of experts from academic institutions also monitor vaccines to ensure their safety.
Most of the COVID-19 vaccines require two separate doses given about three to four weeks apart, depending on the vaccine. Participants of the clinical trials have reported experiencing short-term side effects after being vaccinated, with more pronounced discomfort after the second dose. These possible side effects include headache, muscle pains, fatigue, chills, fever and pain at the injection site. Sometimes there is a misunderstanding about the cause of these reactions, as you may have heard someone say a vaccine has “made them sick” or given them the disease that the vaccine was intended to prevent. We want to be clear this is not the case. The COVID-19 vaccine cannot give you a COVID-19 infection. The vaccine works by helping the body create antibodies to fight off the virus. Feeling discomfort after getting vaccine means that the vaccine is doing its job and your body is making antibodies. We included a fact sheet on our website for your review. Although the side effects can be temporarily uncomfortable, we are confident this vaccine is a much better option than the risk of getting this virus.
We, along with thousands of other long term care facilities, are participating in a program with the Centers for Disease Control to help us most efficiently distribute these vaccines to our residents and staff free of charge. We will continue to take all necessary precautions after the vaccine is administered, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing, to ensure the safety of our residents and staff. We will also work with public health officials to determine how/when to adjust our policies for visitations and social activities and keep you updated.
The vaccine will be a lifesaving turning point in the fight against COVID-19. We are here to help make sure you feel comfortable with this process. Please know that the safety and wellbeing of our staff and residents have been and remain out top priority. We are confident that the worldwide, unprecedented scientific achievement of these COVID-19 vaccines will eventually enable us to enjoy life with our loved ones again. We look forward to doing our part in this effort by getting the COVID-19 vaccine and hope you will join us. Please feel free to reach back out to us if you have any additional questions.
Please see the vaccine clinic dates for each facility below.
Pharmacy | First Clinic | Second Clinic | Third Clinic | |
Royal Braintree | CVS | Dec 28 and 29, 2020 | Jan 18 and 19, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Cape Cod | CVS | Dec 29, 2020 | Jan 19, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Cotuit | CVS | Jan 10, 2021 | Jan 31, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Fairhaven | CVS | Jan 2, 2021 | Jan 23, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Falmouth | CVS | Jan 3, 2021 | Jan 24, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Forest Farms | Walgreens | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Royal Meadow View | CVS | Jan 20, 2021 | TBA | TBA |
Royal Megansett | CVS | Jan 14, 2021 | Feb 4, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Norwell | CVS | Jan 6, 2021 | Jan 27, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Wayland | CVS | Dec 30, 2020 | Jan 20, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Westerly | CVS | Jan 6, 2021 | Jan 27, 2021 | TBA |
Royal Woodmill | CVS | Jan 4, 2021 | Jan 25, 2021 | TBA |
Residents and staff will receive two doses of the vaccine. The first during the first clinic and the second during the second visits. Residents admitted and staff hired after the date of the first clinic will receive the first dose during the second clinic and their second dose during the third clinic.
Dates subject to change.
Additional Resources: