“Prior to the COVID vaccine clinics, the Administrator and the Facility’s Medical Director created a video urging staff to do their part and get vaccinated. When non-clinical, administrative staff step -up and get the vaccine it filters down to the patient care staff members as well. This is how we were able to have the majority of our workforce vaccinated. Protecting our staff and residents is a priority within our company.” — Ambassador Health Omaha
“We really tried to do education for the ones on the fence, and also provided rides to and from the community vaccination site. We provided information for the vaccination sites and also checked with them at least once a week to see if they were ready to get the vaccination.” — Bloomfield Good Samaritan Society
“We were pleased to achieve over 70% staff vaccination.” — Blue Valley Lutheran Home, Hebron
“Brookestone Acres was thrilled to start our COVID-19 vaccine journey in early January with the help from a local pharmacy. It was very exciting and created a sense of relief for staff, residents, and residents’ families. It showed that we were getting one step closer to “normal”. We are able to allow more visits, dine together, have groups together, and go on outings with their loved ones. We are still working cautiously and diligently in keeping COVID-19 out of our facility. We continue to educate our staff, residents, and residents’ families of the importance of receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines available.” — Brookestone Acres, Columbus
“The staff did not want to be part of a “clinical trial” and were uneasy about getting the vaccination. We had the first round of Pfizer and less than 50% of staff received it due to fear of side effects. Our infection Preventionist kept educating them on side effects and benefits of the vaccination, so our second round a lot more staff had signed up. We had a Johnson and Johnson clinic and even more staff got the vaccination. We’ve had 1 staff member positive with Covid in the last few months and she was not vaccinated. The rates are way down in our facility and it feels great.” — Brookside Rehabilitation Center, Lincoln
“The residents actually brought the energy to the process of vaccination. To see their faces light up and to see hope in their eyes after these long months of Covid, was inspiring. CHCC has 70% of the staff who have been vaccinated. The biggest barrier was all the misinformation out there on the internet, face book, and other media sources. People were afraid. So about half of the staff went first and only had mild to no side effects from dose one or dose two. This was helpful so a few more people signed up to take the vaccine. Residents are excited but starting to get frustrated as the guidance has not changed for them. So we are still excited to have that extra layer of protection, but really wanting to see the new guidance and what does it really mean to be vaccinated.“ — Christian Homes Care Community, Holdrege
“We have reached over 70% Staff vaccinated. We are still facing barriers related to misinformation from other sources and what Staff believes or have heard from social media. At this time no changes have happened based on our county rate being high” — Clarkson Community Care Center
“Being from a smaller rural community, we had a lot of vaccination hesitancy. With persistent education from our Infection Control Preventionist and the Administrator of Crowell Memorial Home the facility continued to see the vaccination rates increase with the employees.” — Crowell Memorial Home, Blair
“Initiated vaccinations for staff through our parent Health System, Methodist Fremont Health in January 2021. We provided ALOT of vaccine information week to week to staff and focused on specific issues that we heard from staff when rounding with them as they may have been identified as not having signed up as yet for the vaccine. We also offered one on one conversations with our infectious disease physician if they wished. We don’t know if any staff opted to access this resource. Our DON even accompanied a few staff members during their vaccination to support any fears they might have had and/or escorted them to another Health System vaccination clinic to receive their vaccine. Some we just couldn’t change their minds at this point, but will continue to encourage and push out additional information as the outcomes of vaccination become more available and known. We have seen a dramatic decrease in potential positives or confirmed positives in both staff and residents since vaccinations have been completed, which is so encouraging. Our last positive resident and staff was well over a month ago and the facility has been in GREEN ever since. We have been able to expand visitation because of this and have continued confidence in the safety and protection of our residents and staff with increasing community vaccination efforts, which we also participate in covering these vaccination clinics so they can support the ongoing effort of community vaccination.” — Dunklau Gardens
“We are grateful for the opportunity to host COVID vaccine clinics with the Gerimed Pharmacy. Residents and staff are so happy to receive this vaccine so that we can start having visitors again.” — Florence Home
“Residents and staff welcomed the opportunity to be vaccinated with open arms and sleeves rolled up. Staff and residents knew that getting vaccinated was a major step in being able to allow residents to reconnect with their loved ones in person instead of just through technology, a closed window, or a room divider. They were eager to be a part of “Project Hug” through Good Shepherd’s partnership with Community Pharmacy. Good Shepherd Lutheran Community includes both Good Shepherd Lutheran Home (Skilled and Long-term care facility) and Shepherd’s Village – Assisted Living. Good Shepherd Lutheran Home had 70% of the staff fully vaccinated by February 9, 2021. Shepherd’s Village had 90% of employees fully vaccinated by February 9, 2021.” — Good Shepherd Lutheran Community, Blair
“Hillcrest Firethorn has had 74% of team members successfully complete two rounds of vaccine and 10% of the remaining have had their first dose awaiting the second. We have not had a positive case of covid-19 in the building since the beginning of December. Most of the team were excited to comply with the vaccine as it would help protect those we serve as well as their family.” — Hillcrest Firethorn, Lincoln
“Lancaster Rehabilitation Center is the state’s largest skilled nursing facility with 280 team members and220 residents. We have had excellent turn out for all of our in house vaccine clinics and fantastic support from our community pharmacy partners. We are excited to share that 79% of all team members and 98% of our residents have been fully vaccinated, allowing us to resume some normalcy for our residents. The past16 months multiple challenges have been overcome and we are looking forward increasing our percentages even more.” — Lancaster Rehabilitation Center, Lincoln
“Legacy Square is a 40 bed long-term care facility that is located on the Henderson Health Care campus. It is a new facility that was opened July 2019. 73% of staff have received their COVID vaccine. 2020 was a long, stressful year and staff and residents are praying that 2021 will be a better year! The residents at Legacy Square are looking forward to seeing their loved ones once again!” — Legacy Square, Henderson
“My Assisted Living Facility staff has embraced this whole journey and have been so supportive to all the residents.” — Louisville Care Community, ALF
“My Long Term Care Facility staff had to overall re-frame their minds with IC processes.” — Louisville Care Community, LTCF
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“We had a lot of hesitation with the first and second clinics due to misinformation on social media platforms. By the time the third clinic rolled out, more staff felt comfortable getting it since those that initially got it did not develop complications. We also have quite a few staff that refused it due to religious preferences so that greatly impacted our numbers. Majority of those not yet vaccinated still cling to some social media theories on why they shouldn’t get it but we are trying to win them one by one. We started at 32% and are sitting at 78% today. That’s progress we are proud of.” — Maple Crest Health Center, Omaha
“For those that were vaccinated there is a feeling of ‘hope, relief, and encouragement’ that they are able to be moving forward to CRUSH COVID! The facility purchased t-shirts for all the staff that got the vaccine and this was much appreciated by staff!” — Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home, Newman Grove
“The staff wanted to get vaccinated so that they could return to hopefully a normal life.” — Mitchell Care Center, Mitchell
“We were able to have 71% of the staff vaccinated through education and one on one meetings with them. Each of vaccination clinics was filled with joy and excitement. We are looking forward to what is going to come in the near future to enhance the life’s of our residents.” — New Cassel, Omaha
“Biggest barrier was the unknown. Frustrating for vaccinated staff when others would not get vaccinated. Percentage increased as people say that most did not get sick from it.” — Nye Legacy, Fremont
“Our journey with the vaccine for Covid-19 has been trying. With the unknown to the virus, many staff and residents wanted more facts from trials and to be aware of side effects. With support from our Medical support team, we have had success to vaccinate 90% of residents and 70% of our staff.” — Nye Pointe, Fremont
“Our residents are looking forward to the day when they can go out and about-take their cars for a spin and go visit their children.” — Prairie Breeze, Pender
“Some were just concerned about the standard of vaccine and young females with fertility.” — Tabitha at the Landing, Lincoln
“There was hesitancy with the quickness of the vaccine development with staff. Residents were very willing as they felt like it was their chance to regain normalcy.” — Tri Valley AL, Cambridge
“We just completed our 2nd series of vaccinations. Everyone is excited to see what the future holds!.” — Wel-Life, Papillion
“York General Hearthstone is a 127-bed long-term care skilled nursing facility with over 140 staff members. We are excited to share that 95% (soon to be 97%) of our residents and 73% of our staff have been fully vaccinated! We are thankful for our health and happy to leave 2020 behind us and continue to move forward with a Great 2021!”— York General Hearthstone
Page last reviewed: June 16, 2021