HIGH POINT, N.C. — Hope is on the way for folks at Pennybyrn.
The retirement and assisted living campus held its second large-scale COVID vaccination clinic Tuesday. About 450 residents and staff received their second shot, and 50-75 staff members got their first.
"We are just extremely grateful and happy to be able to offer this gift to everyone, to be well on our way to having that immunity almost at herd immunity," Vice President Vonda Hollingsworth said.
Hollingsworth said a weight was lifted for residents who've felt shut-in and for the staff who care for them.
"Staff carry a burden, a burden of being the potential carrier to this very frail and elderly population. And so there's always that concern that even if you do everything right that you could bring that virus in. And it would be devastating," Hollingsworth said.
Hollingsworth said Tuesday she believed brighter days are ahead. She said she looks forward to getting back to a sense of normalcy
"The hope after today is to continue to move forward towards less restrictions, to be able to plan to reopen our community to families to visitors to events where folks can come together and connect and have that true sense of community," Hollingsworth said.