Manor Staff, Residents Vaccinated

On Dec. 30, the Kimball County Manor became one of the first nursing homes in the area to have residents and staff get the COVID-19 vaccination. According to Director of Nursing Sarah Stull, 31 out of 41 nursing home residents took the shot while 13 out of 15 individuals in the assisted living also received the vaccination.

Staff were also vaccinated with 12 taking the vaccination, but 12 to 15 more have signed up to receive their first dose in 21 days when the others receive their second shot.

A team of three from Walgreens Pharmacy in Scottsbluff, including a pharmacist and two techs, are traveling the area and giving the vaccinations. Sarah said that it has been a "learning curve for both of us, they said that every time they go into a building it is getting a bit easier because they of course had never done this before either."

Stull herself took the vaccine in the hopes of encouraging others to follow suit.

"I know there has been a lot of concern regarding the vaccine and people with their theories ... 'Oh it is just too fast'," she said.

The state has not released any information about reopening nursing homes if residents and staff get vaccinated.

"They haven't given us any of that information, but I have to believe it is coming and that is why I did it," Stull said.

"I just want to be able to have our family members come back in and whether or not that happens, I don't know, but I did my part," she said.