OLATHE, Kan. — All 54 resident at Anthology of Olathe, a senior living community, received a COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
It's a moment they have been waiting months for.
"I think it's a wonderful thing," said 93-year-old Elvera Miller, who received the vaccine.
Anthology is one of the first senior-living facilities in the Kansas City metro to vaccinate all of its residents, according to the executive director. Staff also was vaccinated.
41 Action News was not allowed inside the clinic and cannot disclose the pharmacy that facilitated the clinic, due to privacy concerns.
84-year-old Ruth Dewendt, who has lived at the facility for more than two years, said her heart was beating a little faster than normal as she walked into the clinic.
"It hurt. It stung but I expected that," Dewendt said.
But Miller, on the other hand, wasn't nervous.
"It didn't hurt, just a prick for me," Miller said.
Because of the vaccinations, family members will be able to visit starting Monday, with new guidelines and rules in place. It's this reason alone why many residents said, 'Yes,' to the vaccine.
"I really really want to see even the grandchildren and to have them come in and have food with me," Dewendt said.
Seniors at the facility said not to worry about receiving the vaccine.
"It's a very difficult virus," Don Flannagan, who got the vaccine on Wednesday, said. "For older people, it's really bad."
From Miller's perspective, people don't need to be afraid.
"After all, I can't understand why anybody would refuse to take the vaccine," Miller said.
