COVID-19

Avamere vaccinates 85% of residents in single day

More than 200 residents and staff members of Avamere Court at Keizer’s assisted living, independent living and rehabilitation residents began their vaccinations for COVID-19 Monday, Jan. 4.

Clinics were set up in each of the buildings on the campus to keep residents and staff safe, said Sue Horn, director of sales and outreach at the River Road Facility.

“The vaccination clinic provided 218 doses yesterday to campus residents, staff, and care partners, and at this time 85% or our residents have had their first vaccine [dose],” said Blake Epp, the executive director of the campus.

COVID-19 vaccinations are most effective after two doses are administered. Avamere Court at Keizer has additional clinics scheduled later this month and in mid-February. By that time, nearly all residents are expected to have received the full course of vaccination. Avamere at Keizer partnered with Walgreens in administering the Pfizer-BioNTech-developed COVID-19 vaccine.

Horn said the only thing stopping a few of the residents from taking part in the first round was recent flu vaccinations.

“We at Avamere continue to be on the fore front of fighting COVID 19 and keeping residents, staff and loved ones safe. Everyday our frontline staff roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes. You have to have a passion for what you do to do this every day,” Horn said.