Care Center In Aurora At 'Top Of The List' In A New CDC COVID Vaccination Program

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - An Aurora care facility for older adults says it has been accepted into a COVID-19 vaccination program being administered by the Centers for Disease Control. The program is called Pharmacy Partnership for Long Term Care and it comes as great news to Kim Boughton, executive director of Belleview Heights Assisted Living & Memory Care.

"They did work with the CDC to get us at the top of the list and it was very exciting," said Boughton.

Like many other similar facilities in Colorado, Belleview Heights has been hit very hard by coronavirus. State records show 24 cases and nine deaths there into June.

Boughton said the vaccinations will be for staff and residents and will be provided by Walgreens and CVS pharmacies. Boughton said it's badly needed.

"These families have been not been able to see their loved ones. And staff have had to worry if they're going to catch the virus or not be able to come to work. And they've worked hard."

During the best of times caring for those with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss is difficult. With COVID safeguards in place things are much tougher.

Boughton told CBS4 the effect is really being felt by the 30 residents.

"There's a bit of decline because they are not able to see their loved ones (in a normal fashion). We do set up window visits and courtyard visits so they can see their family," Boughton said.

For Belleview Heights, an effective vaccine for COVID can't come soon enough.