To MorningStar Residents and Families:

With excitement and relief, we share news of the emergence of a vaccine against COVID-19, made possible through the tremendous orchestrated efforts of Operation Warp Speed.

MorningStar has closely tracked the anticipated development of this vaccine, with two major pharmaceutical brands having taken the lead: Moderna and Pfizer. The reported efficacy of both vaccines is said to be 94%, consistent in adults across age, gender, race and ethnicity.

The Federal Government has begun shipping 40 million vaccines to the states as the first phase of the roll-out. Each state is responsible for dispensing its allotment of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine to its citizenry via Walgreens and CVS, which are serving as the nation’s primary distribution and reporting channels. Both companies have a decade-long history as immunization experts.

MorningStar has chosen Walgreens to disseminate the vaccine in our communities via clinics under our roof beginning in early January. Walgreens is responsible for coordinating logistics, ordering vaccines and associated supplies, ensuring the vaccine is stored at correct temperatures, and adhering to testing requirements for its administering staff. MorningStar is responsible for securing in advance a signed Vaccine Administration Record from each person wishing to receive the vaccine. Check with your Executive Director or Wellness Director for this consent form.

As logic would dictate, State Governments are segmenting the population into priority groups, the initial ones being healthcare workers and First Responders. Therefore, MorningStar team members will likely receive the vaccine first, in advance of our residents in most states. The two available vaccines are not interchangeable. One or the other is administered as a two-shot series, 21 days apart for Pfizer; 28 days apart for Moderna (a strictly monitored interval of time). The .3ml injection is given in the arm. As with most vaccines, the side effects to anticipate, if any at all, are light flu symptoms, low grade fever and soreness at the injection site.

Knowing what we now do about coronavirus and its aggravated impact on seniors, we are encouraging our team and residents to avail themselves of this free inoculation. Catch the “Back2Hugs” excitement here:

The Choice is Yours—Ultimately, you have the right to choose whether to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Do your own research across authoritative websites that you might make an informed, personal decision.

Even with the reality of a COVID vaccine, MorningStar will continue its coordinated defense across every aspect of our operations, including the “Triple Crown” (hand hygiene, masks, six-foot distance). As the nation backs out of quarantine, MorningStar communities are judiciously following suit in keeping with their respective state's phasing and pacing. We are sharing reopening details for each Community directly with its residents and family members. Reach out to your Executive Director for more.

An earnest thank you for your superb patience through the many and prolonged impositions of COVID-19—and for your surpassing trust in us throughout. And now with a promised solution near to hand, we have all the more reason to be humbled and grateful.

God bless,



Ken Jaeger
CEO
MorningStar Senior Living