A Big Hit
Making residents aware of the vaccine was just the beginning, though. To really emphasize the celebratory feelings that many people were having about getting vaccinated, the staff at Renaissance Marquis decided to turn vaccination days into celebrations.
“The first time, we did a snack bar, we had music going and we were just very energetic and made it seem like a fun, pleasurable experience. I know getting a shot is never something that somebody really wants to do, but the day of we just made it a super awesome experience for them. We had people taking pictures and playing games and things like that,” Post explains. “The second dose, we made kind of a theme out of it that was ‘Knock Out COVID.’ We set up a boxing ring. I actually was in a lot of pictures with residents; after they’d get their shot I’d be lying on the ground with boxing gloves on and they would be acting like they knocked me out. It was a big hit.”
Renaissance Marquis contracted their vaccines through CVS Pharmacy, which sent staff to administer the first dose in early January. Over 90 percent of the residents and 50 percent of the staff received their first dose in January, and the numbers rose with the second round of shots in early February.
Almost 100 percent of residents have had at least one dose now, as well as about 70 percent of staff members. A third round of vaccines will take place in March for those who received their first dose in February or those who haven’t gotten their first dose yet.