By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Housing Authority teamed up with state agencies to make sure that residents were able to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The HA held two clinics, with the first shot administered on March 11 and the second on April 8.
FHA Executive Director Krisanne Sheedy said about 120 shots were given at each clinic, with some staff members also taking advantage of the opportunity. Ms. Sheedy said the Department of Housing and Community Development set the guidelines. They paired up with the Office of Elder Affairs to make sure all housing authority senior complexes were covered.
The FHA has run flu clinics before with Stop & Shop in Fairhaven.
“And in the end, that’s who they paired us up with,” she said.
She had to take a stab at the numbers, but she was able to get it pretty close. A few residents had managed to get vaccinated on their own, but most of them used the clinic.
“It was way easier for most of them,” she said.
The clinics were held at Oxford Terrace, so those from Dana Court or Anthony Haven could walk, if they were able. She said the Fairhaven Council on Aging/Senior Center also provided vans.
“[COA Director] Ann [Silvia] and I worked really well together making sure people were taken care of,” said Ms. Sheedy. “We did a lot of coordinating to make sure we made full us of those vaccines.”
She said EMS provided an ambulance in case there were any complications: there were not.
Other than putting shots in arms, the HA staff ran the clinic, from maintenance setting up, to office staff making sure forms were in order, to having water available so people were hydrated.
“We did a lot to make this happen,” she said.
They even got $10 gift cards from Stop & Shop for every tenant.
“Today went very well, smoothly, everybody was happy to get their second shot,” she said on 4/8 after the second clinic.
“We hope it helps to start getting people out of isolation here,” she said. “And hopefully get back to a little bit of normal.”
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