It didn’t take any convincing for CNAs Kerry Nastasia and Samantha Salvas to raise their hands to roll up their sleeves and receive the first COVID vaccine administered at Pond Home.

With staff cheering them on, both mother and daughter took the highly anticipated ‘shot in the arm’ Tuesday, January 5.  They received the Pfizer vaccine administered by Walgreens, who Pond Home partnered with for their three vaccination clinics.  

“It’s just the right thing to do,” according to Nastasia, a sentiment echoed by daughter Salvas.

Nastasia, a Certified Nursing Assistant for 25 years and with Pond Home for the past four, said “we all want to put an end to this virus and this is how to do it,” noting that social media may be undermining the importance of the vaccine.

“People need to read legitimate reports and educate themselves about this life-saving vaccine and not rely solely on social media,” she said, an opinion shared by Salvas.

“The anxiety over the vaccine has definitely been fueled by social media,” said Salvas, an 8-year CNA who joined Pond Home three years ago with her mother’s encouragement. “As far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better – if you are able to get a vaccination that can keep you safe, why wouldn’t you?”

Both Nastasia and Salvas termed the past year as “difficult and trying.” Constant updated directives and guidance from the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) coupled with daily concern about the well-being of residents and staff placed the entire Pond Home community on high alert.

“To call the last 10 months challenging is an extreme understatement,” according to Pond Home Administrator Rebecca Annis. “But having the vaccine available and here is an enormous sign of hope – it’s the best news of 2021 so far!”

In addition to Nastasia and Salvas, three other Pond Home mother-daughter co-workers were vaccinated on January 5th.  They include Staff Educator/Nurse Manager Joanne Lohan and her daughter Julia who works in Pond Home’s kitchen; Certified Nursing Assistant Nanci Rando and her daughter Catherine who is a Cook; and Charge Nurse Maura Boone and her daughter Brianna who works in the kitchen. 

About Pond Home

From its pastoral setting, to its home-cooked meals, to its attentive and devoted staff, Pond Home is a retirement home for seniors who want to live in a secure and caring environment while enjoying the companionship of their peers.

Pond Home offers Residential Care and Supportive Nursing Care in a beautifully maintained colonial home on Route 140 in Wrentham, providing all meals and 24-hour nursing care. It is managed by Rogerson Communities, a Boston-based non-profit recognized as a leader in the management and development of elder housing and services. To learn more about Pond Home please call 508-384-3531 or visit www.pondhome.org. Also, follow Pond Home on Facebook by liking its page.