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A SHOT OF HOPE: First homebound Winston-Salem patient receives vaccine

The patient, 62-year-old Dave Grover, said he was extremely grateful to finally receive his first shot.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The first homebound patient in Winston-Salem received his COVID-19 shot today from Novant Health

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It was the healthcare facility's first time administering the vaccine in Winston-Salem to a homebound patient. The patient, 62-year-old Dave Grover, said he was extremely grateful to finally receive his first shot.

"I'm very grateful it's been a long road," Grover said. "I've been trying hard since the first of the year to be able to get this vaccine."

Grover was confined to his bed back in May 2019. He said he was eager to get the vaccine, but it was a difficult process since he was homebound.

"I'm part of the solution instead of the problem," Grover said.

Novant Health officials said they are expanding their program, to help give homebound patients the vaccine, to the greater Winston-Salem area.

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In Phase 1 of the expansion, Novant's nursing team will administer COVID-19 vaccines to patients who may be homebound or have barriers to accessing vaccines.

In Phase II, the program will expand over the coming weeks to offer more services.

"We've been focusing on equitable vaccine distribution in our community and today we take that one step further by meeting this man right where he is in his home, so he can have access to the vaccine," Katherine Caster said.

Katherine Caster, the Manager of Community Engagement for Novant Health, said reaching others who are homebound and want the vaccine has been a goal of theirs. 

"Such a beautiful thing to see just one more person have access to this vaccine and we are a part of his solution for healing," Caster said. "I think his story will spark the opportunity for someone to say, I'm ready, if he can do it, so can I."

Grover said he is grateful and is ready for his second shot.

"It will be nice not to have to wear a mask when people are around, but the main thing is my health," Grover said.

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