- Good afternoon Fowler Family!
- COVID UPDATE:
- Yesterday, Dallas County reported 1427 new COVID-19 cases with 40 deaths – sadly a record high
- January was the deadliest month of the pandemic, with 95,000 deaths reported in the U.S.
- Today, President Biden announced a 5% increase in vaccine supply starting this week and the launch of the federal retail pharmacy program which will allow citizens to be vaccinated at their local pharmacy
- Last week, Johnson & Johnson announced their safety data from Phase 3 clinical trials of their new COVID vaccine. The data demonstrates that their single dose vaccine at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies met all primary and key secondary goals.
- The study data is based on 43,783 participants; 468 of those participating in the study displayed symptomatic cases of COVID-19
- The participants came from 8 countries, 3 continents
- They sought variety in age, gender, race and underlying health conditions such as diabetes and obesity
- The vaccine was 72% effective in US and 66% effective overall at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, 28 days after vaccination
- It was 85% effective overall in preventing severe disease and demonstrated complete protection against COVID-19 as it relates to hospitalization and death as of Day 28
- The single shot is comparable with other standard vaccines in its distribution and will be an important tool in our pandemic setting
- The addition of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine offers the additional hope of helping ease the huge burden placed on healthcare systems and communities
- Johnson & Johnson will file for U.S. Emergency Use Authorization in early February and expects to have product available to ship immediately following authorization
- Experts are stating that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be a game changer
- Federal Health officials state there will be fewer than 10 million vaccine doses available if the US Food and Drug Administration authorizes it for emergency use in the coming weeks
- The official said the number of doses available would be in the single-digit millions, but that number would ramp up to 20 or 30 million doses by April
- Meanwhile, vaccine clinics around Dallas continue
- Texas Motor Speedway started its three day mega site clinic today
- It is anticipated to give 10,000 vaccines per day in 16 drive through lanes
- The clinic will run Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
- As of Sunday, 160,233 people were on the waitlist
- The City of Dallas received 5000 doses from the state and began holding vaccine clinics at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
- They set up an invitation only process and invited 10,000 people by providing a unique link designed for one person
- However, many people who received the link, share it and people showed up thinking they had a vaccination time slot
- Only those who were on the original invitation list, were given the vaccine
- This created tremendous waiting times and thousands were turned away
- Additionally, the Mayor stated they over-estimated how many people they could vaccinate in a single day
- Registration processes continue to be modified
- These efforts and challenges are happening all over the country – as one Dallas official stated – “it’s new, it’s a new process”
- FOWLER UPDATES:
- Here at Fowler, our vaccine clinics continue tomorrow
- Residents and staff who have had their first dose, will receive their 2nd dose this week – these clinics are confirmed and the doses for these clinics have been set aside
- Residents and staff in PNCC and JLC as well as staff in support services will receive their 2nd doses tomorrow
- Friday, Fowler Christian Apartments Assisted Living residents will have their 2nd dose
- While our clinics have gone smoothly, our registrations process has been faced with challenges – and these are challenges that are out of our control – kudos to Gentry and Billie for their efforts to confirm all of our clinics
- We submitted all of our clinic applications at the same time
- With that said, last Friday, we were notified by CVS that the next round of 1st dose clinics at Fowler Christian Apartments were not confirmed
- We have worked for weeks to get these confirmed
- In the same way Dallas citizens have been trying to register online and get a confirmation for a vaccine clinic site, we too have been navigating the CVS vaccine registration process
- The nature of the current vaccine complicates the administration of it – the number of doses per vial, the number of vials per case, maintaining the refrigeration, etc all impacts where and when an allotment of doses is provided – it’s like putting together a puzzle
- We continue to work with the CVS officials to get clinics scheduled and confirmed that would vaccinate our independent living residents in Fowler Christian Apartments
- Our goal is every resident and staff member who chooses will get the vaccine
- Regarding the 2nd dose
- The FDA has noted that side effects to the vaccine could be greater after receiving the 2nd dose
- Remember, any side effect you have – aching, fever, muscle aches, etc – are a sign that the vaccine is doing its job
- As such, we have heard from other providers that hydrating can help and while that is not something that has been scientifically proven, I encourage all of you to hydrate today and tomorrow prior to receiving your vaccine
- We will have Gatorade available for everyone
- A quick reminder:
- We have heard that doors are being propped open to let visitors come in to one of our buildings.
- This is a direct violation of our policies and procedures
- All visitors and deliveries are to go through our designated delivery and screening areas
- Doors are not to be opened to allow visitors or deliveries in
- We are vigorously fighting COVID and all visitors must be screened and authorized
- Additionally, you may not give your key fob or gate clicker to a family member or a care giver
- Again, caregivers must come to our screening desk daily to secure authorized access and by providing gate clickers and key fobs, you are bypassing our safety screening process which could create risk to you and your neighbors
- Your personal convenience does not outweigh our policies and protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID
- This week starts the beginning of Black History Month and we will celebrate Black History in each briefing this month
- From https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
- “Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.”
- A life so beautifully lived, deserves to be beautifully remembered. It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the passing from this life of our beloved neighbor “Laniel” this week. We will celebrate this beautiful life on April 12, 2021
- TEAMMATE TUESDAY:
- Good afternoon! Happy Teammate Tuesday!
- Happy 4-year anniversary to Sarah Floyd! Sarah celebrated her anniversary yesterday 2/1.
- Tameka Randall’s birthday was yesterday 2/1. Happy birthday, Tameka!
- Jenn Garland wanted to share the following teammate shout out:
- Thank you to Charlie Guijarro! He had already left the community on Friday eve when he was called regarding a television not working in the Carroll Neighborhood. He turned his car around and came back to address the issue! He had to switch out the television in that room. Charlie truly made a difference in the resident occupying that room.
- Thank you to Luis Martinez! He came to the community on Sunday afternoon to fix a resident emergency call pendant! Thank you thank you thank you!
- Shrhonda lifted up Regina Smith saying, “I love the way she comes to the gates and says please every time! It makes my day! Thank you for making a difference”!
Make it a great day on purpose!
All COVID Updates are posted on our website – www.fowlercommunities.org/covid19/
COVID Hotline: Phone: 214-515-7184 • Spanish Speaking Line: 214-515-1385
Email: Covid19info@fowlercommunities.org
COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll-free at 833-986-1919
