COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
OGLE COUNTY NEWS
‘It means safety for our residents’ - CEO Ferol Labash
Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, January 8, 2021
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First round of vaccines for Pinecrest Community BY JEFF HELFRICH
jhelfrich@shawmedia.com After receiving the first part of their vaccines on Monday, Pinecrest Community residents and staff in Mt. Morris took pictures and shared on cards why the vaccine was important to them. Nurse Kathy Lee’s “why” was her grandchildren and the residents and Pinecrest. Brenda Camling works in dining services at Pinecrest. Her “why” was to be able to be around her family again for holidays. Risk Manager Howell Herman’s reason was to be “part of the solution.” One resident wrote she wanted to get the vaccine “for the future.” Another simply wrote “grandkids.” “So I won’t get COVID-19,” One resident wrote. “I don’t want to die.” Pinecrest CEO Ferol Labash said Monday was a happy day at Pinecrest. In November, the federal government contacted all nursing homes and asked about signing up for a vaccine program with CVS or Walgreens. Pinecrest chose Walgreens. Walgreens contacted Pinecrest just before Christmas to get the vaccine clinic structured. Nursing homes started vaccinations on Dec. 28. The second leg of the Pfizer vaccine will come to Pinecrest on Jan. 25. “Since March, our primary focus has been keeping residents and staff safe,” Labash said. “We’ve been very fortunate and haven’t had an outbreak. It’s devastating when it gets in nursing homes. It means safety for our residents.” Labash hopes the Illinois Department of Public Health will open nursing homes back up for visitors sometime this year. Some residents haven’t seen their families since March. “We’re hoping to reunite them,” Labash said.
Pinecrest Community photos
ABOVE: Pinecrest Community employee Kathy Lee and a resident hold their signs explaining why they wanted the COVID-19 vaccine. BELOW: Employees and residents hold signs explaining why they want the COVID-19 vaccine.
