Ventura County mobile health team vaccinates homebound seniors
VENTURA, Calif. -- Ventura County Public Health is taking its vaccine distribution on the road to reach people who aren’t able to leave their homes.
Wednesday was vaccination day at Holiday Retirement senior living facility in Simi Valley.
“The young lady that gave me the shot was perfect,” said Larry Marshall, who is a resident at Holiday Retirement living facility. “I never even felt it going in.”
Ventura County Public Health brought its mobile health team to the senior living home Wednesday to get residents and staff members vaccinated.
“It has been hard to get someone to come out here to get our residents vaccinated because we are independent living community so it is not assisted living so it is different,” said Connie Shahinian, who is the General Manager at Holiday Retirement.
The mobile team has traveled to nearly 30 different long term care facilities throughout Ventura County. Holiday Retirement was the final stop before the tour starts all over again. This time for 2nd doses. The team will now offer help for others who can't leave home.
“We did start another project with in home support services as another county program and we started going door to door,” said Lindsay Shull Nelson, who is a nurse with Ventura County Public Health. “We are really focusing on people who can not leave the home, bed bound. If you are able to drive to one of our drive-up facilities that is what we would like for you to do.”
Residents at Holiday Retirement were excited.
“It has been extremely difficult for them,” said Shahinian. “I mean it has been a year of them being in their rooms and having dining taken away. It has just been intense for them so this happening is a breath of fresh air.”
“I have been trying for weeks to get an appointment and it is just not available, and thanks to our general manager here she managed to get our shots here,” said Marshall.
Nearly 50 residents and several staff members were vaccinated.
“It’s very emotional,” said Shahinian. “These residents have become part of my family and I want to keep them safe, and it happened today.”
To request the in-home vaccine service visit https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/
