EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Frontline healthcare workers are the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Those working in nursing homes say it’s an emotional experience.
“We finally have a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Annie Spano from Harris Hill Nursing Facility.
“It’s a hope that this will end," said Stacy Bastian of Absolut Care of Aurora Park.
These two frontline workers say they’ve moved mountains to keep residents and staff safe for nearly a year.
“It’s really a gift that we are finally able to roll out this vaccine,” Spano said.
Nursing homes in the state are currently receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. At Harris Hill, the first dose was administered on Sunday to 40 patients and 120 staff members.
“The vaccine was a huge success,” Spano said.
Spano says the only hurdle is that the vaccine can’t be administered to those who have had COVID-19 within the past 14 days. Some patients at Harris Hill still need to recover first.
At Absolut Care of Aurora Park, staff and patients will have their first vaccination clinic on Thursday. The facility says 160 patents have given consent to receive the vaccine, and about 50% of the staff.
The nursing home vaccination program is being run by the Federal Government. Governor Cuomo says the program has not moved as quickly as he would like, now the state is stepping in.
Cuomo hopes to have all nursing home staff and residents vaccinated in the next two weeks.
“We can’t wait until Thursday,” Bastian said.
