Cedarhurst of Columbia

It is each person’s and/or responsible party’s right to refuse the COVID-19 vaccination. Any resident or employee who declines the COVID-19 vaccine must complete a Cedarhurst Refusal Acknowledgement for COVID-19 Vaccination.

Each person vaccinated will receive a card after the first (1st) dose and after the second (2nd) dose. That card will include the date and type of vaccine received.

No person will be charged for the vaccine or its administration. The vaccine is paid for by the federal government, No. Section 3203 of the CARES Act, which does not impose any cost- sharing requirements, such as a copay, coinsurance, or deductible. A minimal administrative fee (approximately $28) may be billed to your health insurance, including Medicare. The pharmacy will be reimbursed for the administrative fee by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) program for those uninsured.

It is each person’s and/or responsible party’s right to refuse the COVID-19 vaccination. Any resident or employee who declines the COVID-19 vaccine must complete a Cedarhurst Refusal Acknowledgement for COVID-19 Vaccination.

Most people do not have serious problems after being vaccinated, according to the CDC. Your arm may be sore, red, or warm to the touch. Some people report getting a headache or fever, particularly after receiving the second dose. These side effects are a sign that your immune system is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. It is building up protection and immunity against the disease.

No. The CDC says getting the COVID-19 vaccine is the safer choice. While still learning about the virus, the current advice is that COVID-19 has caused serious illness and death for many people and if you get it, you also risk giving it to your loved ones, who may also get very sick.

Yes, FRONT and BACK photocopies of each participant’s current insurance cards will need to be obtained and attached to their consent form. This will allow the vaccination teams access to unique claim billing details and avoid interruptions to the community staff.

Yes. We must continue proper infection control measures, including wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and hand hygiene. It is unclear how well the vaccines will curb the spread of the virus. The Pfizer and Moderna trials tracked only how many vaccinated people became sick with COVID-19. More research is needed to understand if vaccinated people can become infected without developing symptoms and, if so, whether or not those persons can silently transmit the virus to unvaccinated people.

As with any vaccine, the goal of a COVID-19 vaccine is to expose the body to an antigen that will not cause disease but will provoke an immune response that can block or kill the virus if a person becomes infected. After receiving a vaccine, a person develops immunity to that disease without having to get the disease. Some vaccines last a year (like the flu vaccine) and others last longer (like the polio vaccine). Current science suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine will be more like the flu vaccine requiring annual dosing, but research will be required to fully answer this question. Although we do not know how long the protection from either the vaccine or from having had COVID-19 will last, we know that that the vaccine is a strong step towards eradicating COVID-19.

Yes. When your community receives the appropriate state- approved consent form from the pharmacy that will administer the vaccination, the form will be provided to you or your Responsible Party for signature. Verbal consent may also be obtained for residents who DO NOT have physical or cognitive ability to consent. If a resident or his/her Responsible Party is able to provide written consent, written consent should be obtained. If consent is collected verbally, a community representative’s original signature is required in addition to that of a witness on the consent form. The verbal consent must also be documented in the resident’s medical record. Further, the community is authorizing the pharmacy to bill on behalf of the individual being vaccinated. The pharmacy may require the consent form prior to arriving at the community and before they administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

Either CVS or Walgreens pharmacy will come to the community to vaccinate residents and staff. We anticipate three (3) clinics, with two (2) opportunities to receive both doses of the vaccine. Clinic #1: Group 1 receives first dose Clinic #2: Group 1 receives second dose Group 2 receives first dose Clinic #3: Group 2 receives second dose

Appropriate trained personnel under applicable state and federal laws and guidance will administer the vaccines. The immunizers are trained and certified according to company and state-specific regulations. They may include pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and trained pharmacy technicians, as well as other qualified healthcare professionals. The pharmacist will bring all requested vaccine product and other supplies necessary (including all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment—PPE) for administration, according to vaccination protocol.

Both residents and healthcare professionals with direct exposure to residents will be vaccinated through the clinics. Some states may alter the order of those receiving the vaccinations; however, until directed otherwise, Cedarhurst is preparing to have all residents and healthcare professionals who wish to be vaccinated, vaccinated at the first two vaccination clinics.

In accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and to help protect team members, residents, and the public from COVID-19, residents and all individuals who have direct exposure to residents, including employees (full-time, part-time, per diem, PRN), essential caregivers, and 3rd party providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists, home health workers, hospice workers, private duty service providers, beauticians, volunteers, etc.) are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID-19. At this time, however, Cedarhurst will not mandate the vaccine for residents or staff. Cedarhurst reserves the right to modify its position regarding mandatory vaccination in its sole discretion. Each individual should consult with his/her personal medical provider prior to making the decision to receive, or refrain from receiving, the COVID-19 vaccination.

It is our understanding at this time, that all long-term care communities will receive the Moderna vaccine. However, depending on vaccine availability and distribution efforts, the Pfizer vaccine may also be used. Once your community receives its confirmation for its vaccination clinic, the specific vaccine will also be confirmed.

Yes. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine consists of two (2) doses, administered four (4) weeks apart. The Pfizer vaccine consists of two (2) doses, administered twenty-one (21) days apart. You must receive both doses of the vaccine as scheduled by the pharmacy. Maximum protection against COVID-19 may not occur until several weeks after receiving the second (2nd) dose of the vaccine.

Vaccines authorized for emergency use by the FDA have shown to substantially reduce your risk of getting COVID-19. If you are exposed and contract COVID-19 after being vaccinated, scientists believe that similar to other virus vaccines, your risk of serious complications will be substantially reduced. When vaccinated, you will help protect not only yourself, but also your friends, family and other members of your community. Both vaccines were tested in large clinical trials to make sure that they meet safety standards. Many people were recruited to participate in the trials, including people of different ages, races, and ethnicities.