JCHC Begins Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations

The Johnson County Healthcare Center in Buffalo has begun vaccinating direct caregiver staff at the facility this week, according to a release from CEO Sean McCallister.

McCallister said in the release, “this is an exciting and critical milestone for Johnson County and our ability to protect community members from the virus.”

The JCHC has received 300 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is stored at normal refrigeration temperature and must be used within six hours once warmed to room temperature.

People must receive two doses that are 28 days apart.

The FDA has affirmed the Moderna vaccine is 94% effective.

McCallister said in the release that Amie Holt Care Center staff and other direct caregivers at the healthcare center, including nurses and medical providers, will be the first to receive the vaccine.

He said JCHC cannot mandate its employees receive the vaccine due to the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization; but they highly encourage all to receive it.

He also reported that the JCHC is enrolled in a program with the State of Wyoming for Walgreens to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to Amie Holt Care Center residents.

Those vaccinations are expected to occur in early January 2021.