By Terrie M. Roberts
Healthcare providers from Willis-Knighton Health System came to The Oaks of Louisiana on Thursday and were greeted with applause by residents anxious to receive a vaccination for the prevention of the COVID-19 virus.
The first of two doses was administered to Tower and Garden Apartments residents, who gathered in the Franks Community Centre and Tower at The Oaks ballroom, where chairs were spaced apart and everyone was masked.
Residents voiced their relief that living at The Oaks provided them the opportunity to get the vaccine without leaving campus, going out in public among crowds of people and possibly being exposed to the virus.
Last week, Health Center at Live Oak staff and frontline workers were the first in the senior living community to receive the vaccine, which represents light at the end of the tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Center residents and those at Savannah at The Oaks assisted living residence will be vaccinated later this month.
CVS is administering the vaccine under Phase 1a of the vaccination program for the Health Center and assisted living residents.
“The vaccinations are a long-awaited and vital part of virus prevention,” says Margaret Elrod, Oaks executive director. “All of our buildings have strict screening, visitation and isolation policies to control the spread of COVID. While the vaccine is a game changer, we will not let our guard down. We still will mask, practice social distancing and emphasize hand washing.”