PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has sent a wave of optimism through long-term care centers that have been devastated by the coronavirus.
At Richboro Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Bucks County, more than 80% of the residents and 30% of the staff have received their first round of shots.
"People are very eager to move forward and get out of this as soon as possible. Hopefully the vaccine will deliver that," Chief Administrator Simcha Werner said.
Round two is coming up, he says.
"They recommend that you take it 20 days apart, so the first dose was delivered on Dec. 28, via CVS clinic, and we’re actually getting the second dose on Monday, Jan. 18."
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Similar scenes are playing across Pennsylvania. The vaccine program can’t come soon enough for elderely patients who account for well over half of the more than 18,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the state.
Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, says 379 nursing homes are now scheduled to receive the vaccine. He says 379 is a good number, but there’s still a long way to go.
“Keep in mind, there are over 700 nursing homes throughout the state. And on top of that, there are 1,200 assisted-living communities or personal-care homes."
He and other advocates say getting nursing home workers to get their shots has been a challenge at some facilities.
He said there is a 75% to 95% acceptance rate in homes among residents, but among staff, it's a different story.
"We’re seeing an average of about 50% right now, but we’re hearing anecdotes and examples where only 20% or 30% is taking the vaccine."
So why the hesitancy?
"I think one of the factors is that there are three vaccine clinics scheduled. And it wouldn’t surprise me, as we talk to more and more providers and staff, that many are waiting until the second vaccine clinic to see what happens to those in the first clinic, to see if there are side effects," he said.
Beyond that, he said, he says he's frustrated by a slow distribution process. Shamberg is calling on state and federal health officials to make long-term care patients a priority for the vaccine.