Shannon Alvey: ‘I don’t want the new normal’
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In back, from left, Ahannon Alvey and Adam Norman. In the middle are, from left, Maxine Wilson and Debra Gregory. In front are, from left, Tiffany Hicks and Sandie Payne. Staff at Morning Pointe made receiving the COVID-19 vaccine a festive occasion. - Ken Leinart
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Maxine Wilson, Debra Gregory and Sandie Payne look over decorations for the COVID-19 vaccine kickoff on Monday. - Ken Leinart
They held a celebration at the Lantern at Morning Pointe Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, residents and staff of the facility started receiving COVID-19 vaccines.
Executive Director Shannon Alvey said that was a good reason to hold a celebration. But combining it with an early Valentine’s Day party was even better.
“Any excuse for chocolate, right?” she said with a laugh.
After almost of year of living with a cloud over their heads and coping with rigid protocols, the staff at Morning Pointe is seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s an honor and privilege to serve the residents here, to protect them … To protect each other. This is a team effort,” she said. “When we found out we were getting the vaccine, it was, ‘What is the plan? When are we receiving it?’ The families of our residents are as excited as we are.
“It’s a sense of relief, a light at the end of a dark tunnel.”
With the theme “Kiss COVID Goodbye,” Morning Pointe administered the first doses of the vaccine Tuesday (Jan. 26). The second doses will be administered Feb. 23. A follow-up visit is scheduled for March 1.
“We want to open our building back up,” Alvey said. “I want our normal, normal back.
“I don’t want the new normal.”