With the COVID-19 vaccines now being distributed across the state, you may have many questions about who is getting it and how it works. Fortunately, we have received the COVID-19 vaccine at Kensington Place Redwood City and have begun administering it to our residents and team.
The CDC has many recommendations for who will get which vaccine and at what age. High-priority groups of people, including seniors 65 and older, are getting access to it as quickly as possible, because older adults have a higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19. One reason for this is underlying conditions that weaken the immune system.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been deemed safe after rigorous testing, and appears to be more than 90% effective in protecting people from illness. The vaccines do not make you sick with the virus. Instead, they work to help you build immunity and effectively fight the virus, should you come into contact with it.
Read on for more information on the vaccines and how they are being distributed at Kensington Place.
COVID-19 Symptoms for Older Adults
Symptoms for COVID-19 vary greatly, and some appear to mimic the flu. That’s why it’s important to know all the potential symptoms that have been documented, including the emergency symptoms that require immediate medical care.
Older adults with underlying conditions may even experience symptoms that are different from the typical signs of illness. Continuing to regularly take all prescribed meditations and closely monitoring older adults for illness is essential. At Kensington Place, resident temperatures and oxygen levels are taken at every shift.
It’s also important to note that older adults may have a lower overall body temperature than younger adults. Knowing your baseline temperature is important so you understand when you are experiencing a fever.
The current list of COVID-19 symptoms 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
The emergency symptoms of COVID-19 that require immediate medical attention include:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
- New confusion
If you begin to feel unwell or are exhibiting any potential symptoms, it is important to immediately get tested and begin quarantining.
Can You Get Infected with COVID-19 After the Vaccination?
If all necessary procedures and precautions are taken, you will be protected from getting sick after you are vaccinated. For the COVID-19 vaccines to be effective, a few factors come into play:
- You must get both doses of the vaccine, spaced apart accordingly.
- Adequate time must be given for you to have received both vaccines and for our bodies to develop immunity.
This will happen over the course of several weeks. In the meantime, it is important that all COVID-19 protocols remain firmly in place.
Unlike traditional vaccines you may know, the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. Traditional vaccines inject a weakened or inactivated germ into the body. MRNA vaccines enter the cells near the injection site, which will be the upper arm, and instruct cells to start making the same protein found in the COVID-19 virus. Then, the body begins to make antibodies required to fight the virus.
Once vaccinated, some people will experience mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or temporary pain at the injection site. This does not mean you are sick with the virus. It can show that the vaccine is doing its job by triggering the body’s immune system.
If you become sick with COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine, this means you either became infected right before or right after you got it and your body didn’t have a chance to build immunity. That’s why continuing safety prevention protocols is necessary.
Current COVID-19 Prevention Protocols at Kensington Place Redwood City
The team at Kensington Place promises to love and care for your family as we do our own. This promise extends into every action we take in our community. Our highest priority right now is keeping your loved ones protected from COVID-19 and getting everyone vaccinated.
To keep everyone safe, we are continuing to:
- Monitor team members for fever and symptoms at the beginning of each shift and every four hours after the start of their shift
- Send home team members with fever or symptoms and ask them to seek medical care from their physician
- Wear protective masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face shields and gowns
- Frequently sanitize high traffic areas and resident apartments with CDC-approved disinfectants
- Reinforce the need for frequent handwashing with our team members and residents (and provide assistance as needed)
- Take resident temperatures and oxygen levels at every shift
- Provide dining and life enrichment activities in-suite
- Restrict deliveries to outside entrances and sanitize all items
- Limit visitation to only essential health care personnel
We will continue to strictly adhere to the San Mateo County Department of Public Health and Community Care Licensing Safety Plans.
Anticipated COVID-19 Vaccination Protocol for Kensington Place Redwood City
Our team is partnering with Walgreens to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine at Kensington Place. The first vaccination clinic date was Jan. 23, with a second date scheduled Feb. 15. Those who didn’t receive the vaccine on the first date can get it on this date, with a third date scheduled for March 8.
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 our Kensington Place family.
Data from the 74,000 people who participated in Phase 3 testing of the vaccines revealed the vaccines are safe for distribution. If you experience side effects, they should go away in a few days.
If you have questions about the COVID-19 safety protocols or vaccine distribution at Kensington Place, please contact us. We are committed not only to the safety of your loved ones, but to provide you with the peace of mind that your loved ones are healthy, happy, and in good hands.