The COVID-19 vaccine is now here at The Kensington White Plains. Our team is excited to take this next step in helping residents stay healthy and safe. Strict testing of the vaccines, produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, has shown them to be more than 90% effective.
Older adults, including seniors 65 and older, have been especially affected by the COVID-19 virus. Eight out of 10 deaths reported have been in this age group. That’s why the CDC is prioritizing the vaccination of older adults, and ensuring quick access to the vaccines.
We want to make sure our community understands the COVID-19 safety measures in place at White Plains, and is aware of our vaccine protocols in the coming weeks. The safety and happiness of our residents is our highest priority. Read on to learn what we are doing to keep our residents healthy and safe.
COVID-19 Symptoms for Older Adults
Seniors may experience any of the COVID-19 symptoms recognized by the CDC, or they may find that an underlying condition causes different symptoms altogether.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Muscle or body aches
- Fatigue
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
It’s also important to recognize these emergency COVID-19 symptoms, which require immediate medical attention:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
Seniors must continue to take all prescribed medication for underlying conditions, and keep at least a 30-day supply on hand to avoid delays in treatment. Be aware of your baseline body temperature as well, because many older adults have a lower overall body temperature than younger adults. This means a fever may show up as a lower temperature.
At The Kensington, we frequently take resident temperatures and oxygen levels to monitor for symptoms.
Can You Get Infected with COVID-19 After the Vaccination?
The COVID-10 vaccines do not infect you with the virus to build immunity. Instead, they work by entering the cells near the injection site and instructing them to start making the same protein found in the COVID-19 virus. Then, your body can work to make antibodies that fight the virus if you become exposed.
The vaccines are messenger RNAs, or mRNAs. Traditional vaccines injected a weakened or inactive germ into the body, but the COVID-19 vaccines do not. You need two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to be protected from illness. The first dose prepares the immune system and helps it identify the virus, and the second dose strengthens the immune response.
If you happen to become sick with COVID-19 soon after receiving the vaccine, this means you were exposed either right before or right after you got vaccinated. The vaccine will not make you sick. That’s why it’s important to continue following all COVID-19 safety protocols, even after getting vaccinated, so you can protect yourself and others.
Current COVID-19 Prevention Protocols at The Kensington White Plains
Our COVID-19 outbreak management will remain in full effect during vaccination clinics and beyond, until we receive word otherwise from the CDC and local health departments. Currently, visitors are not allowed, and no one is allowed in the building except team members, residents, and essential medical services. In lieu of family visits, FaceTime, Slack, and Zoom video calls are used.
All team members and residents are being monitored for fever or other symptoms of COVID-19. Residents also are having their oxygen levels checked three times a day. Any team members who exhibit symptoms must go home and be tested for the virus.
Other precautions and procedures at The Kensington include:
- Practicing social distancing
- Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Regular hand washing and sanitizing
- Providing resident assistance for hand washing and sanitizing
- Residents dining in their own suites and not main dining room
Since life enrichment is a large part of our services at The Kensington, we remain committed to helping residents find purpose and joy every day. The focus has turned to one-on-one activities and single-person activities such as adult coloring, puzzles, and private concerts.
Anticipated COVID-19 Vaccination Protocol for The Kensington White Plains
At The Kensington, we take pride in the level of care we provide, and we promise to love and care for your family as we do our own. This means taking every necessary step to protect them from illness.
Our team is partnering with CVS/Omnicare to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine at The Kensington White Plains. The first clinic date isJan. 30 for first doses. Second doses will take place Feb. 20, as will first doses for anyone who missed the first date. The third clinic date will be March 15.
New residents are also eligible for the vaccine! Contact our team to walk you through your options and answer any questions you may have about becoming a part of The Kensington family.
We are grateful to be taking this next step in protecting our team and our residents from COVID-19. Phase 3 testing of the COVID-19 vaccines included 74,000 people, following strict guidelines from the FDA and independent panels of scientific and medical experts. This testing revealed the vaccines are safe, and appear to be more than 90% effective. In comparison, the flu vaccine is about 50+% effective.
If you have any questions about our COVID-19 prevention procedures or vaccine protocols, please contact us. We will continue to follow all local and state requirements as they are updated.
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