WRC Weekly COVID-19 Update

1/7/2021

We’re sharing our weekly update to keep WRC employees, residents, and families informed of changing regulations and policies at the national and state level, as well as within the WRC continuum. Thank you to all WRC essential workers!

Updates within WRC Continuum

• COVID status at each community (as of 1-7-2021, 12:00 PM)
  • Highland Oaks in Clarion, PA
    • 0 current resident cases, 0 current staff cases, 2 cumulative cases
  • Edgewood Heights in New Bethlehem, PA
    • 0 new resident cases, 0 new staff cases, 41 cumulative cases
  • Ridgmont in Ridgway, PA
    • 0 new resident cases, 0 new staff cases, 8 cumulative cases
  • Laurelbrooke Personal Care in Brookville, PA
    • 0 new resident cases, 0 new staff cases, 5 cumulative cases
  • McKinley Health Center in Brookville, PA
    • 3 new resident cases, 3 new staff cases, 98 cumulative cases
  • Please contact the community directly for more information about current and past COVID-19 cases, or the Director of Strategic Communication at 814-220-2142.
• McKinley Health Center residents and staff will have the opportunity to receive the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on January 14^th and 15^th from 12 to 4 PM. Vaccines will be administered from partners Walgreens and PharMerica, who are offering the vaccine to long-term care facilities at no cost. More details about the vaccination clinic will be released as they become available. Other WRC communities will also schedule vaccine clinics at a later date, and are still considered a priority to vaccinate during phase 1A of vaccine distribution (more information below).

Resources for the COVID-19 Vaccines

• Who gets Vaccinated First?
  • The PA Department of Health’s Vaccine Distribution plan prioritizes those who work and live in a long term care facility (LTCF). ACIP recommends that LTCF residents be prioritized in the earliest phases of COVID-19 vaccination. LTCF staff are considered healthcare personnel. However, in settings where initial vaccine is insufficient to vaccinate residents of all LTCFs, ACIP recommends further subprioritization.
    • Skilled Nursing Facilities should be prioritized among LTCFs as they provide care to the most medically vulnerable residents.
    • After skilled nursing facilities have been vaccinated, the remaining LTCFs should be prioritized by licensure type based on factors related to COVID-19 infection risk.
  • Allergies and Who Shouldn’t Get Vaccinated
    • The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for ages 16 and older; the Moderna vaccine is recommended for adults 18 and over. Neither vaccine contains common allergens of eggs, preservatives, or Latex.
    • Tell the vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
      • have any allergies
      • have a fever
      • have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
      • are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
      • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
      • are breastfeeding
      • have received another COVID-19 vaccine
    • Click Here for Pfizer Vaccine Fact Sheet and Ingredients
    • Click Here for Moderna Vaccine Fact Sheet and Ingredients
  • How does the Vaccine work?
    • COVID-19 mRNA vaccines give instructions for our cells to make a harmless piece of what is called the “spike protein.” The spike protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are given in the upper arm muscle. Once the instructions (mRNA) are inside the immune cells, the cells use them to make the protein piece. After the protein piece is made, the cell breaks down the instructions and gets rid of them.
    • Next, the cell displays the protein piece on its surface. Our immune systems recognize that the protein doesn’t belong there and begin building an immune response and making antibodies, like what happens in natural infection against COVID-19.
    • At the end of the process, our bodies have learned how to protect against future infection. The benefit of mRNA vaccines, like all vaccines, is those vaccinated gain this protection without ever having to risk the serious consequences of getting sick with COVID-19.

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