Enliven residents, volunteers and staff lined up recently at Cashmere Home and Cashmere Heights Home in Johnsonville to receive their first Covid-19 vaccination.
Enliven is collaborating with the Capital & Coast District Health Board on a vaccination rollout to its homes in Wellington, which began in early May.
Aged care residents, staff and volunteers are being prioritised in the national vaccination rollout.
Cashmere Home and Cashmere Heights Home manager Karen Rhind says they administered 137 vaccinations at the Johnsonville homes earlier this month. The second doses will be given at the end of the month.
“It’s reassuring that vulnerable residents and staff have the opportunity of protection from the impact of Covid-19,” she says.
“The vaccination process went very smoothly and we are grateful for the support of the Capital & Coast District Health Board and also Unichem High St Pharmacy who administered the vaccines.”
Enliven volunteer driver Michael Bisset was one of many there on the day to receive the first dose.
“It’s important for my health and the health of everyone else that we don’t spread this virus,” he says.
“We’ve all got to do it – we’ve all got to play our part.”
Both homes set up areas where people could receive their vaccination, then a different area for them to wait for 20 minutes before continuing with their day.
Those who received the vaccination also got a chocolate bar to enjoy while they waited.
As for the injection itself, Michael says it was over within seconds: “It was easy – it doesn’t hurt!”
