Community Updates

Moral Permissibility of COVID-19 Vaccines Respect Life and Social Justice

Monday, December 07, 2020

The Moral Permissibility of Covid-19 Vaccines
There appears to be some confusion in the media regarding the moral permissibility of using the vaccines for COVID-19 developed by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna. I would like to offer some clarifications.

Neither the Pfizer nor the Moderna vaccine involved the use of cell lines that originated in fetal tissue taken from the body of an aborted baby at any level of design, development, or production.1 They are not completely free from any connection to abortion, however, as one of the tests that Pfizer and Moderna cited to confirm that their vaccine would work relied upon an abortion-tainted cell line. There is thus a connection, but it is relatively remote.

Some are asserting that if a vaccine is connected in any way with tainted cell lines then it is immoral to be vaccinated with them. This is an inaccurate portrayal of Catholic moral teaching.

There are three documents from the Holy See that treat the question of tainted vaccines: 1) the 2005 study by the Pontifical Academy for Life, “Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Foetuses”; 2) paragraphs nos. 34-35 in the 2008 Instruction on Certain Bioethical Questions (Dignitatis Personae) by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; the 2017 Note on Italian Vaccine Issue, by the Pontifical Academy for Life.

These documents all point to the immorality of using tissue taken from an aborted child for creating cell lines. They also make distinctions in terms of the moral responsibility of the various actors involved, from those involved in designing and producing a vaccine to those receiving the vaccine. Most importantly, they all make it clear that, at the level of the recipient, it is morally permissible to accept vaccination when there are no alternatives and there is a serious risk to health.

The Pontifical Academy for Life gives as an example the case of rubella (German measles): “We find, in such a case, a proportional reason, in order to accept the use of these vaccines in the presence of the danger of favouring the spread of the pathological agent, due to the lack of vaccination of children. This is particularly true in the case of vaccination against German measles.”2

The Pontifical Academy calls for appropriate expressions of protest against the origins of these vaccines as well as for vigorous efforts to promote the creation of alternatives. “There remains a moral duty to continue to fight and to employ every lawful means in order to make life difficult for the pharmaceutical industries which act unscrupulously and unethically.” The Pontifical Academy adds, however, that public health must not be sacrificed. “The burden of this important battle cannot and must not fall on innocent children and on the health situation of the population.”

A memo with similar information has been sent to all bishops via the Bishops Only Website. Furthermore, an educational document (in a Q and A format) is being prepared to address various ethical questions related to vaccines generally, and COVID vaccines particularly. We hope to have this document finalized and distributed to you within the next 2-3 weeks.

https://s27589.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/COVID-19-Vaccine-Candidates-and-Abortion-Derived-Cell-Lines.pdf

Reprinted with permission from the Catholic Advance. 

December 1, 2020

Questions and Answers about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PALTC Staff, Patients, Residents and Family Members

1. How is a vaccine developed and tested?
▪ Approval of a vaccine for use in people involves multiple phases with different goals for assessing effectiveness and safety in different populations. There are a total of 4 phases and the vaccine must meet very intense safety criteria before completing each phase. Once a vaccine is approved for use after phase 3, it has been tested in tens of thousands of people and if no significant harmful side effects are noted, it is considered safe for use. Phase 4 involves continued monitoring and gathering of safety data. This type of clinical trial has been used for decades to approve medications and vaccines.

2. What are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine?
▪ FDA requires 50% efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine (the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are showing 94-95% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 disease during this trial phase). Many other companies are working on a vaccine and we expect that others will be approved by the FDA.
▪ FDA requires 8 weeks of safety data on the COVID-19 vaccine.

3. How will we know it is safe?
▪ Safety is the most important requirement for the vaccine and is assessed in trials by independent experts.
▪ Most adverse side effects occur within 6 weeks of vaccine administration, and the FDA has required 8 weeks of safety monitoring so it can track any side effects.
▪ FDA advises a minimum of 3,000 participants to assess safety. The current phase 3 trials have 30,000 to 50,000 participants. This really demonstrates how safety is a top priority for the FDA and the medical community.

4. Who else will be evaluating this vaccine to ensure it is safe and effective?
▪ There are 2 advisory committees: (1) The Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) that advises the FDA; (2) The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that advises the CDC.
▪ These advisory boards are independent. Their job is to monitor vaccines to ensure safety regardless of money, politics, etc.
▪ The people on these committees are experts from academic institutions and they are vetted to avoid a conflict of interest. Experts who may have a conflict of interest are not put on these committees.
▪ The committees will evaluate the vaccine data for safety and efficacy, and also help to determine how it will be distributed.

Questions and Answers about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PALTC Staff, Patients, Residents and Family Members

5. What are the types of potential vaccines that may be approved?
▪ Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are a new type of vaccine undergoing clinical trials (see question #6 below for more information on this). There are also other types vaccines being studied that are similar to vaccines we have used for other diseases. None of these can give you COVID19! The goal is to give your body the tools it needs to fight COVID-19 effectively and/or prevent you from getting it at all.
▪ Also, none of the proposed vaccines contain live or killed viral particles, even though some other effective vaccines for other diseases have (see question #6 below for more information on how these new vaccines work).
▪ Most of the vaccines that are currently being tested will require 2 doses to be effective, given about 3-4 weeks apart.
▪ This is to make sure your body has enough antibodies to fight COVID-19. Getting 2 doses within 3-4 weeks has been shown to be safe and there are other vaccines we have been using for years that require multiple doses without causing harm.

6. How does an mRNA vaccine work?
▪ According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, mRNA vaccines contain material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. This material gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. This protein cannot build a virus or cause infection. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build antibodies that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.
▪ While mRNA technology is new in vaccine development, this technology is being successfully used in cancer treatments.
▪ For more information, visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/vaccines/about-vaccines/how-they-work.html

7. What is an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and if the vaccine is approved for an EUA, what does that mean?
▪ An EUA is based on the need to use a vaccine quickly to save lives during an urgent health crisis.
▪ You may be anxious about the speed with which a vaccine has been approved. While the EUA is a shorter process, no steps are skipped in the safety evaluation process.
▪ This approval can still take weeks and the FDA will re-evaluate the numbers and data to ensure that the calculations are correct.
▪ The FDA will assess if the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks.
▪ Both advisory boards (VRBPAC and ACIP) will also review all the data and information.

8. How long will the vaccine protect us?
▪ It is likely that we will not know the answer to that question when a vaccine is released. That will take more research.

Questions and Answers about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PALTC Staff, Patients,
Residents and Family Members

▪ This vaccine may be like the annual flu vaccine, where we may need to have vaccine shots for COVID-19 on a regular basis. More research is needed to know this and it also depends on whether and how much the virus changes over the coming months to years.

9. When will we be protected after we get the vaccine?
▪ Even when people receive the vaccine they will not be immediately protected and will need to continue wearing masks, social distancing and practicing frequent hand hygiene.
▪ Some vaccines will require 2 shots, with a few weeks between each shot, and protection will usually occur about 2 weeks after the second shot.
▪ While no vaccine is 100% effective, some of the vaccines proposed are anticipated to be more than 90% effective. This will greatly reduce your risk of getting sick with COVID-19 and spreading COVID-19 to your loved ones.

10. After I have had the second dose of the vaccine and it is 2 weeks after my second shot, do I still have to wear a mask?
▪ Yes. Even though you have received your vaccine, most of the people around you have not. We know the vaccine prevents disease in the vaccinated person, but it still may be possible to transmit the disease to others, until the vaccine is in widespread use.
▪ Wearing a mask, social distancing, and practicing hand hygiene protects those who have not been vaccinated, especially our residents in long-term care.

11. What if I had COVID-19 or I took a test that showed I have antibodies? Should I get the vaccine?
▪ Yes, even if you have had COVID-19, it is safe to get the vaccine and this can add additional protection without causing any harm.
▪ If you have had a test that shows you have COVID-19 antibodies, you should still get the vaccine. It is safe and can increase your protection from future COVID-19 infections.

12. What are some of the possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine? Will the vaccine make me sick?
▪ The vaccines currently being tested in clinical trials can cause short-term discomfort (such as headache, muscle pains, fatigue, chills, fever, and pain at injection site) in a percentage of the people who receive them. This is the effect of your body developing immunity. Clinical trial participants reported that the discomfort went away after a day, sometimes sooner. When you receive the second dose of the vaccine, the discomfort can be more pronounced. This is a normal reaction, so be prepared.
▪ If you experience discomfort after the first dose of the vaccine, it is very important that you still receive the second dose a few weeks later for the vaccine to be effective.
▪ This does not mean that the vaccine has given you COVID-19. Rather, this means that the vaccine is causing your body’s immune system to react and create antibodies to fight off the virus. In other words, if you feel some discomfort, then the vaccine is doing its job!
▪ In some cases, a person may already be infected with COVID-19 when they get the vaccine but are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic. If they later have symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for it, it does not mean they got COVID-19 from the vaccine.
Questions and Answers about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PALTC Staff, Patients, Residents and Family Members

13. We should expect that vaccine recommendations will change as additional vaccines are approved.
▪ At first, we may have one vaccine, then hopefully two or three. As different vaccines become available, some may be found to be better for different populations and different circumstances.
▪ Just like our knowledge about the virus itself changes over time, so will the recommendations about vaccines.

14. What can I be doing now while we wait for a vaccine to be approved and distributed?
▪ It is important to know about the process of how a vaccine is approved so you can ask questions.
▪ Listen to the VRBPAC and ACIP committees’ discussions as they are all public. Check the websites for updates:
– VRBPAC meetings: https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/vaccines-and-relatedbiological-products-advisory-committee/2020-meeting-materials-vaccines-and-relatedbiological-products-advisory-committee
– Here’s a link to the recorded meeting from October 22, 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XTiL9rUpkg
– ACIP meetings: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/index.html
▪ Ask your medical director or provider about the vaccine and have them share information and answer questions. You can talk to them about how they are planning to make their decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
▪ It will be important to get your information from reliable sources, such as the CDC
(www.cdc.gov), the Immunization Action Coalition (https://www.immunize.org), your facility’s medical director, and other providers so you can get accurate information. Social media is full of misinformation and opinions based on that misinformation, so be careful to look to reputable sources (such as those affiliated with academic institutions or non-profit professional organizations like AMDA) for information.
▪ Look for specific data on potential COVID-19 vaccines and listen to/read the scientists’ evaluations of the data.

15. Is the flu vaccine also safe and effective?
▪ Yes! The flu vaccine is a good example of how vaccines can help prevent disease and be safe.
▪ It is more important this year than ever to get your flu shot so you can decrease your risk of getting the flu (you can get both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time), and reduce the spread of flu to others. This will also decrease the burden on healthcare staff who are caring for those with COVID-19.

16. Who will be able to get the vaccine in a nursing home?
▪ CDC is recommending that nursing home residents and staff be among the first to get the vaccine. Long-term care staff will often be able to get vaccinated before the residents to decrease the risk of exposing the residents to COVID-19. Long-term care staff will include anyone who works in a nursing home, such as those who work in environmental services, not just those who perform direct patient care. This also includes staff who visit the nursing home, including doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical directors, lab technicians and consultants.

Questions and Answers about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PALTC Staff, Patients,
Residents and Family Members

Now is the time to understand the process, ask questions and get accurate information!

Additional Resources from the CDC:
1. CDC: About COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/aboutvaccines.html

2. CDC: Provider Resources for COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations with Patients and Answering Patients’ Questions. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/covid-conversations/ https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/covid-conversations/answering-questions.html

3. CDC: Understanding the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program and Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/long-term-care/pharmacy-partnerships.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/long-term-care/pharmacy-partnershipsfaqs.html

4. CDPH: COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Questions and Answers.
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Vaccine-PlanningQuestions-and-Answers.aspx
Approved by the AMDA Executive Committee

Approved by the AMDA Executive Committee
December 1, 2020

Dear Family and Friends of CCC,

Today we received the results from Monday’s PCR COVID testing of all residents of our campus, thankfully there were no new positive cases.  This is an important first step in our recovery from the current outbreak.  We will continue to follow the stringent protocols that we have in place for infection control and decontamination so that we can further protect our community.

We are heading into a very precarious time as we enter the holiday season, and while it is understandable to want to gather together with family and friends, the greatest blessing that you can give to those you love is to keep them safe from the threat of this virus so I encourage you to avoid gathering in large groups with people from outside your immediate household.  If we can all work together to stop the spread of the virus in the greater community, we will be able to return to spending time together that much sooner.

Thank you for your continued support of our ministry, we wish you all a safe and healthy Thanksgiving.  

Dear Catholic Care Center Family and Friends,

Today we completed our COVID-focused infection control survey and we are very proud to report that we received ZERO DEFICIENCES!  As you know, we are in the middle of a challenging time at Catholic Care Center and the results of today’s survey delivered some much needed good news!  We are not out of the woods, but it is affirming to know that we are following all CMS and CDC guidance with no deficiencies and this will help us get our community back to better health. 

Thank you for your continued support of our ministry, we sincerely appreciate all of the words of encouragement and prayers for healing.

Dear Catholic Care Family and Friends,

                We continue to have residents and associates in our community test positive for COVID-19 and the Sedgwick County Health Department will be announcing us this week as a COVID cluster; according to the KDHE website as of 11/06, there have been 307 senior living community clusters.  We were not surprised by the increase in positive cases in our community, the design of long-term care communities and the nature of the work that we do, create ample opportunity for viruses to spread.  We are doing everything possible to stop the spread of the virus at Catholic Care Center, we are implemented new decontamination practices, increased our already strict infection control protocols, and are quarantining ill residents away from those not affected by the virus. 

                We are very fortunate to have experienced minimal impact from COVID for the first several months of the pandemic, with the increased presence of the virus in the area, it was almost inevitable that we would experience an increase in the cases in our community.  The goal now is to contain the spread of the virus, provide outstanding care to those affected, and continue meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our residents during these challenging times. 

                We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support that you have shown us in these past several weeks and throughout the year, as we have called families with updates you have assured us of your prayers for our ministry, community members have reached out with offers of PPE and supplies, our senior living partners have delivered meals and snacks to our team; we are truly blessed to live and work in a community that values aging services and those that provide them. 

                For the team at Catholic Care Center, this is a ministry, we have been called to serve and even in the darkest of days, we answer that call because we were sent to show the world how to care for seniors.  We will get through this, and until then please continue to pray for the restoration of health at Catholic Care and for all those afflicted with COVID.

Dear Family and Friends of Catholic Care Center,

                This week 13 residents of Assisted Living and Memory Care, plus two additional associates have tested positive for COVID-19.  As of today we have a total of 27 positive residents in our community.

                We are doing everything we can to mitigate the spread of the virus within our community and are thankful for the work of our caring and compassionate associates and our dedicated Medical Directors and providers as they work tirelessly to help support all of our residents.

                  Over these past several months we have been transparent about what is happening at Catholic Care Center, and we have tried to show the ways that we are still knowing, loving, and serving, and especially LIVING during these difficult days.  Even now as the virus has entered into our community, we share this news with you because it’s important to recognize the scope of the pandemic and how close to home it really is. 

                We will get through this and you can help!  When you are out in the world please wear your mask, avoid large crowds, stay home if you don’t feel well, and hand sanitize on a regular basis.  Thank you for continued prayers and support  for our community and all of the other senior living communities that are doing everything they can to protect and serve the elders of our society.

Dear Catholic Care Center Family and Friends,

                As you know we have worked tirelessly over the past eight months of this worldwide health crisis to best protect and serve our residents and associates.  While there is still much that is unknown about this virus, one thing that we did know is that we would not be invincible no matter how hard we tried to shield our community.  Today eleven residents of Long-Term Care tested positive for COVID-19 using a rapid test, we have retested these residents using a more sensitive PCR test and hope to have the results in the coming days. 

                All residents in the affected areas will be tested every 7 days unless showing symptoms until we have two consecutive negative tests for each resident; associates are testing twice a week.  The health and safety of the residents that we are blessed to serve and the associates that we are privileged to serve alongside of is our absolute top priority and we have increased our already strict protocols for cleaning, infection control, and the safe delivery of care.

                We do not take this situation or the responsibility of fulfilling our mission to know, love, and serve, lightly.  We have an obligation to do everything we can humanly do to care for those entrusted to us, and we pray daily for God’s blessing to do what men cannot.  Thank you for your continued support of Catholic Care Center, we sincerely appreciate your kindness, grace, and continued prayers.

At Catholic Care Center we understand the importance of facilitating meaningful interactions between residents and their families, over the past 30 years the families of our residents have been a major part of the culture within our community and we value their contributions.  In March when CMS mandated that all retirement communities “lockdown” and prohibit visitors and guest from entering the community we started identifying and implementing creative ways to maintain resident and family communication.  Over the past seven months we have witnessed the effect that this physical separation of families has had on our residents and are ecstatic that CMS has now started to ease this restriction to begin allowing visitors into the community.

While this new opportunity to connect residents with their families is very exciting, we must also proceed cautiously to ensure that we are taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our residents, families, and associates.  We have begun scheduling visits for all residents of the community, in addition to the end-of-life and compassionate care visits that we continue to offer per CMS guidelines.  Each visit will be hosted in one of several designated visiting areas which are cleaned and sanitized after each visit and are equipped with a plexiglass divider to minimize risk of spreading illness.  We are also offering opportunities for outdoor visits as the weather permits. 

We ask that families and friends refrain from visiting if they are experiencing any signs of illness, the COVID-19 virus is still a threat to our community and we are also near the beginning of flu season so we must be extra vigilant in self-monitoring our health.  This has been a very difficult time for all of us, and we appreciate the continued support of our families, residents, and associates.  We are proud of the way that this community has come together to navigate the pandemic with zero positive resident cases and no loss of life.  These have been trying times, but we are committed to our mission of knowing, loving, and serving now more than ever.  Thank you for patience and prayers for Catholic Care Center, we look forward to welcoming you back safely.

Dear CCC Families,          

         We understand the importance of bringing residents and families together as soon as it is safe to do so, we have received many request and inquiries about when this might be allowed and our team has been actively working on the following plan which I am pleased to share with you.  This plan is very fluid, and may change as the environment at Catholic Care Center and Sedgwick County change in regard to COVID cases.  Currently we are in Phase 1 of the plan which continues to prohibit visitors from entering campus except in the case of end-of -life compassionate care visits.   For more information on the restrictions and guidelines we must adhere to when developing this plan, please visit these links:

https://www.kdads.ks.gov/covid-19

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-30-nh.pdf-0

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-visitation-nursing-home-residents.pdf

Thank you for your continued support of our ministry, we will bring you new information as soon as it is available.

Cindy LaFleur

Executive Director/CEO

Catholic Care Center

Catholic Care Center Reopening Plan 7/21/20

Testing:

• Testing will be completed on all staff and residents whom have been exposed to a known or suspected positive case
• When verified active case in house is identified, baseline testing will be completed initially for all residents and staff who could be exposed. Positive residents can be released from quarantine 72 hours after the last symptom or 10 days post diagnosis, whichever is longer
• Will utilize Sedgwick County Health Department and/or Geneiq Laboratory to obtain testing kits as needed
• Samples will be completed by qualified nursing staff

Cohorting:

• PACC unit is our 14-day quarantine unit. All new admissions, anyone who is hospitalized, and any resident receiving dialysis treatments will quarantine in PACC
• Any resident that leaves the community for a medically necessary appointment will return back to their original room, assuming their appointment location is taking adequate precautions with mask wearing, sanitation and social distancing
• Active COVID verified cases will serve out their symptoms and quarantine on the neighborhood where they reside. All residents and staff on that neighborhood will be tested
• Two residents that begin their new resident quarantine within 24-48 hours of admission can cohort in a semi-private room

Screening:

• CCC will screen and temperature check all staff prior to shift start
• CCC will screen and temperature check all approved compassionate care visitors
• CCC will screen and temperature check all approved vendors and providers prior to entry
• Residents monitored daily for Temp, respiratory rate, and O2
• Anyone who is approved for building entry will be given a mask, expected to wear it, and will only have access to the location they are given permission to enter

Reporting:

• Infection Control data is submitted weekly through NHSN
• KDHE will be notified within 4 hours of any suspected or confirmed COVID cases
• Family members will be notified no later than 5pm the next day of any positive cases

Consultation with Local Health Department:

• Notification immediately of any positive cases or outbreaks
• Consult and Coordinate testing of residents and team members and follow recommendations
• Consult on local condition and guidance in the county for phase transition consideration
• Consult and receive guidance and approval of reopening plan

Phased Approach: We can begin the phased re-opening 14 days after last known positive case, or when quarantine is lifted after last known positive case. Transition through the phases will be at least 14 days to transition to the next phase, may be longer based conditions at CCC and Sedgwick County case trajectory. If there are any new positive COVID cases identified we start back at Phase 0.

Phase 1:

• Visitation prohibited, except for approved End of Life Compassionate Care
• Approved visitors are screened and masked. Social distancing and hand hygiene precautions will be taken
• Communal dining limited to only those that are asymptomatic and can be adequately spaced 6 feet apart
• Non-Medically necessary trips should be avoided
• Small group activities can occur for asymptomatic residents with social distancing, hand hygiene and mask
• Face mask worn when residents leave community for medically necessary trips
• 100% screening of all persons entering community with temperature checks and face masks worn
• All staff wear appropriate PPE for the neighborhood and conditions they are working in as directed by Director of Nursing or Infection Preventionist

Phase 2:

• Case status in community has not had cases after 14 days in phase 1
• There are no staffing shortages
• Adequate supplies of PPE- Utilize Burn Rate calculator
• Adequate supplies of disinfectant and cleaning supplies
• Adequate access to testing
• Visitation prohibited, except for approved compassionate care
• Approved visitors are screened and masked, social distancing and hand hygiene precautions taken
• Communal dining limited to only those that are asymptomatic and can be adequately spaced 6 feet apart
• Group activities, including outings limited for asymptomatic with no more than 10 people, social distancing, hand hygiene and masks worn
• Non-Medically necessary trips should be avoided
• 100% screening of all persons entering community with temperature checks and face masks worn
• All staff wear appropriate PPE for the neighborhood and conditions they are working in as directed by Director of Nursing or Infection Preventionist

Phase 3:

• Case status in community: no new cases after 14 days in phase 2
• There are no staffing shortages
• Adequate supplies of PPE- Utilize Burn Rate calculator
• Adequate supplies of disinfectant and cleaning supplies
• Adequate access to testing
• Visitation allowed with screening, social distancing, hand hygiene, mask usage
• Non-essential healthcare personnel allowed in with screening, social distancing, hand hygiene and mask wear, (beautician, students and volunteers)
• Communal dining limited to only those that are asymptomatic and can be adequately spaced 6 feet apart
• Group activities, including outings, limited for asymptomatic with no more than can be socially distanced, hand hygiene and masks worn
• Non-Medically necessary trips should be avoided
• 100% screening of all persons entering community with temperature checks and face masks worn
• All staff wear appropriate PPE for the neighborhood and conditions they are working in as directed by Director of Nursing or Infection Preventionist

Visitation:

• Virtual Visits through Microsoft Teams
• Window Visits scheduled through the charge nurse. Window cannot be open.
• Plexiglass Cube will be available by early August for visits in St Elizabeth’s Chapel. This will be arranged by scheduled visits, more to come on this opportunity

Things to consider for transition through phases:

• Cases in Sedgwick county- Coordination with local health department
• Active cases at Catholic Care Center- Will restart the phase process if an active case is confirmed.
• Access to adequate testing
• Screening Protocols in place
• Adequate PPE
• Staffing Levels

Phases Completed:

• Time in phase 3 determined through collaboration with local health department
• No screening required for entry
• All visitor access granted
• No mask wear or PPE required except for isolation situations
• Communal Dining- Can return to normal dining operations
• Activities- Can return to normal activity operations with larger group activities

Dear CCC Families, The Sedgwick County Health Department has elected to release a media statement regarding the two COVID positive associate cases from June and the testing of the residents which initially showed 11 positive cases and later revealed that all 11 were negative for the virus. There are no new cases to report and the information that is being released to the media today is the information that we shared with you several weeks ago as the situation was unfolding. We understand their need to share public health information and wanted to alert you to this release in hopes of avoiding any confusion and unnecessary anxiety. We are truly blessed to report that today at CCC we are all healthy, and we continue to pray for the health and safety of our ministry and the greater community. Thank you for your continued support of our ministry.

Dear Catholic Care Center Family Member,

Today we learned an associate of Meadows, in our Long-Term Care community, has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.  We are working quickly to mitigate the spread of the virus in the community and are increasing our already strict protocols for infection control and resident safety.

This is the second positive associate case at CCC this week and residents in both neighborhoods, Whispering Brooks and Meadows, will be quarantined for 14 days from date of possible exposure.  Whispering Brooks’ residents were tested yesterday and we are awaiting results; we are working with the health department to schedule testing of Meadows residents.  Residents and associates continue to be monitored for signs of illness and at this time no one else is exhibiting symptoms.     

We will continue to update you as more information comes available, and appreciate your continued prayers for the health and safety of Catholic Care Center and those we are blessed to serve.   

Dear CCC Family Member,

Thank you for your continued support during these past several weeks, we understand the hardship you are facing not being able to come into the community and visit with your loved ones and appreciate your help in protecting the residents we are blessed to serve.  

We continue to receive numerous inquiries about when we will being allowing visitors into the community and while we are also eager to see you again in our halls, we must also continue to follow the guidelines set forth by CMS, KDHE, and other local and state officials.  As mandated by CMS, we will be required to test all residents and associates for the COVID-19 virus before being allowed to reopen.  While we wait for further clarification on this mandate, we continue to reach out to local, state, and national resources to obtain the necessary testing kits.   As soon as any information is available about the reopening of our campus, we will immediately begin working to notify families and residents.  

While we await this day, our team continues to creatively engage with residents and help them connect with families via video calls, window visits, and even a recent “Carade” car parade with the residents and families of Chapelside.  Residents truly enjoy these opportunities to connect with their families so we hope that you will continue to join them at the window or online.  We are also very pleased to announce that Father Chris Martin has joined our team as a Chaplain.  In the short time that Father Martin has been with us he has already begun working to reinstate Mass starting with smaller neighborhood Masses, spent time visiting with residents one-on-one, and is creating opportunities for spiritual enrichment for people of all faiths through daily reflections and prayer.  We look forward to offering Protestant services once we can safely welcome in other clergy.  

Also in an effort to protect our community, any Long-Term Care resident who is discharged to the hospital will be required to quarantine for 14 days in PACC before returning to their original room.  Assisted Living/Memory Care residents will be allowed to return to their apartments to serve the 14 day quarantine.  To avoid the need to quarantine we ask that residents avoid going off campus to appointments if at all possible; we are able to provide many services on our campus through our team and with the help of our Medical Directors.  All residents who must go off campus for dialysis appointments will be quarantined indefinitely since they are leaving the community on a routine basis.  We are working to make these days in quarantine as comfortable and productive as possible by offering activity options, in-room therapy, and frequent visits from our team.     

The good news is that brighter days are ahead, and there will be a time that we can welcome you back into the community, and this will be a day that we will all celebrate!  Until then, thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to make the difficult decisions needed to maintain the health and safety of Catholic Care Center. 

We continue to pray for you, and thank you for being a part of our Catholic Care Center family. 

Sincerely,

Cindy LaFleur
Executive Director
Catholic Care Center

Dear CCC Family Member,

Federal and state governments are releasing plans to reopen the economy to essential business. While this is an encouraging sign to our country’s response to COVID-19, please know this process will be taken thoughtfully at Catholic Care Center. We will implement a three-phased approach when reopening our community. Decisions for each phase will be based on state and regional criteria, advice from public health officials, and the health status of our community.

We are all looking forward to the day when we can resume our lives as a community and gather with our friends, yet the health and safety of our residents and employees must remain our highest priority. From the beginning, we have taken on this challenge as a marathon rather than a sprint. There are no short cuts or easy answers to how we reduce our risk to COVID-19 and it’s as important as ever that we continue to remain focused on protecting ourselves and supporting each other.

In the upcoming weeks, and until further notice, Catholic Care Center will continue to follow the heightened precautionary measures currently in place. These practices include following social distancing protocol and restricting non-essential visitors. We understand the risks posed to our community from COVID-19 and remain committed to our processes. We’ll only begin to shift our protocols after we know our community is no longer at risk, and with careful consideration of the guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and local and state health departments. As the situation develops, and we make changes to our protocols, residents, employees and families will be notified first —but to reiterate, we will not be modifying our precautionary measures at this time.

Also in an effort to protect our community, any Long-Term Care resident who is discharged to the hospital will be required to quarantine for 14 days in PACC before returning to their original room. Assisted Living/Memory Care residents will be allowed to return to their apartments to serve the 14 day quarantine. During this time we ask that residents avoid going off campus to appointments if at all possible. We are able to provide many services on our campus through our team and with the help of our Medical Directors. All residents who must go off campus for dialysis appointments will be quarantined indefinitely since they are leaving the community on a routine basis.

Over the past several weeks many of you have asked how you can help support us, and we now have an opportunity that we would appreciate your assistance with. As you know, senior living communities have been greatly impacted by this pandemic, and often they have struggled to obtain the personal protective equipment they need to protect their residents and associates. We ask that you please visit https://www.votervoice.net/Argentum/campaigns/73633/respond to contact your Congress and Senate representatives and ask that they advocate for seniors and senior living communities.

Thank you for your patience, your support, and for embodying that hopeful spirit that Catholic Care Center is known for as we continue to navigate this process together.

Sincerely,

Cindy LaFleur
Executive Director

Dear CCC Family Member,

I’d like to first thank you for your kindness last week when our team called each of you to share the update about the positive associate case, we were overwhelmed by your graciousness and genuine concern for our entire community.

We want to continue being transparent and proactive in our communication and recognize that you are eagerly awaiting more information, so here is the latest information on the COVID-19 situation at CCC:

• We have completed testing of all residents in the Chapelside neighborhood and all test came back NEGATIVE, no resident in Chapelside was found to have the COVID-19 virus.
• All associates in Chapelside are also being tested and we are awaiting those results.
• No residents or associates are exhibiting any symptoms of the virus at this time, we have no fevers or respiratory illness reported in any area of the campus.
• We continue to work with our Medical Directors, Dr. John Womack and Dr. Randall Mijares, as well as the Sedgwick County Health Department to coordinate testing and protocols for the community.
• Even though no resident was found to have the virus, Chapelside will remain quarantined until May 7th which means that residents are sheltering in their rooms and associates are wearing full PPE. Only dedicated associates are working in the area, there is no cross over between associates in Chapelside to other areas of the campus

As you know Governor Kelly outlined her plan for reopening the state during last night’s address. While we appreciate the need to reopen the economy in our area, we also recognize that the threat of the virus is still high and for that reason we will continue to follow her recommendation, and the recommendation of the CDC, and to prohibit visitors from entering campus. We will continue to limit off campus appointments for residents whenever possible.

We have also received new guidelines from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) which states that all new residents admitted to the community, and all existing residents who are returning after a hospitalization must be quarantined for 14 days upon return. We have designated the Post-Acute Care Center (PACC) as the area on our campus that will serve as our quarantine neighborhood, residents returning from the hospital will temporarily stay in PACC for the first 14 days that they are back in the community.

Thank you again for your support of our ministry, we will continue to update you as new information is available.

Sincerely,

Cindy LaFleur
Executive Director
Catholic Care Center

After testing all of the residents who live in the neighborhood where the associate who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus worked, we are truly blessed to share that all residents tested NEGATIVE for the virus. To date, we have one previously reported positive associate COVID-19 case, and no other residents or associates who are exhibiting symptoms for the virus. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available, thank you for your continued support of our ministry!

It is our responsibility to inform you that one of our associates has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, this associate has not been on campus since 4/22 and we have no other associates or residents exhibiting symptoms of the virus. We are working quickly to mitigate the spread of the virus within the community and have increased our already aggressive protocols to best protect the community. The health and safety of our residents and associates is our top priority and we will do everything possible to protect them. We are working under the direction of our medical directors and in collaboration with the health department, and are following all recommended guidelines for screening and testing.

We will continue to update you as the situation progresses, at this time we have no residents showing symptoms of the virus and we will continue to monitor and test as indicated.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of our ministry.

Dear CCC Family Member,

As we are now four weeks into this unprecedented time, I would like to share with you updates on how our ministry continues to combat the threat of the COVID-19 virus and protect the health and safety of our residents and associates.

All associates have recently completed new educational modules to better educate them on pandemic procedures, in addition to these online courses, they have completed a personal protective equipment (PPE) competency test to demonstrate that they know how and when to appropriately use PPE. Associates continue to be screened upon entering the community and wearing mask while working in all areas of the community. We have also compiled a list of associates who also work in other retirement communities and are not permitting staff who work in a community where they have positive COVID-19 cases to also continue to work at CCC. Associates are also strongly encouraged to limit their exposure to the virus by sheltering at home when not at work and avoiding outings to stores and other public places. Today we are blessed to report that we have no assumed or confirmed cases of the virus at Catholic Care Center.

We continue to prohibit visitors from entering the building, except in end-of-life scenarios. While it is difficult to not visit with your loved ones in person, the greatest gift that you can give them right now is security, and to limit their exposure to the outside world. We are happy to help coordinate a video call between families and to assist residents to a window where you can visit through the glass. These sacrifices while challenging, are going to help ensure a positive outcome to this short-term situation.

While we do not yet know when we will be able to return to a more normal life, we do look forward to that time and are already working to plan opportunities to gather together as a community in celebration of all that we have overcome together. Thank you for your continued prayers and well wishes, we continue to pray for you and your family and wish you all continued health and happiness.

Sincerely,

Cindy LaFleur
Executive Director
Catholic Care Center

Dear Assisted Living Families,

Thank you for your continued support during these difficult times, we know that not being able to visit your loved one in our community is stressful and we miss seeing all of you as well. We wanted to take a moment to update on where things stand at Catholic Care Center in regard to our response to the COVID-19 threat.

First, we are truly blessed to report that to date, we have no presumed or confirmed COVID-19 cases in the community and feel that the efforts we’ve made are working in the way that we intended, and are keeping our residents and associates safe.

We also would like to share that while our days are certainly different now, we are working hard to create opportunities for enrichment and engagement while still abiding by the CDC recommendations for social distancing.

For your part in maintaining the health of our community, we continue to prohibit visitors into campus. We also ask that residents not leave the building, including going outdoors to visit with family and friends. While this seems harmless, the reality is that many people carrying the virus show no symptoms and congregating together outside before returning inside the community puts everyone at risk. You are still welcome to mail items to your loved one or drop items at the front Catholic Care Center entrance for us to distribute.

As a reminder, we are helping residents to video call with their families via Microsoft Teams, if you would like to schedule a video call please follow the link on our website, www.CatholicCareCenter.org or Facebook Page to reserve your call on Eventbright. You may have seen pictures on social media of families having “window visits” with their loved one in a retirement community, this is a great way to interact; but please remember to keep the window closed to prevent the spread of droplets that may contain the virus.

Thank you again for your prayers and kind words over there past several weeks, we are truly blessed to serve you and your family and look forward to brighter days ahead!

Sincerely,

Luke Sponsel
Administrator
Catholic Care Center Assisted Living/Memory Care

During this blessed Easter season we would like to thank everyone for your support of our ministry over these past several weeks. We are happy to share that today we have no presumed cases of COVID-19 in the building, and feel that the efforts we are making to safeguard the community are effective. We look forward to the time when we can invite you back to our community, and wish you and your family a very Happy Easter.

Dear CCC Families

As we continue to explore new ways of best serving our residents and families during this difficult time we are excited to announce that we can now help residents connect with families through video calling.

Catholic Care Center has invested in the technology and equipment necessary to utilize the Microsoft Teams video conferencing program and have worked to educate our staff on the use of this program to connect families and residents. We are excited to roll out this new program and hope that you will be a part of the action by scheduling a call with your loved one.

To register for a call, visit our Eventbright page. From there you will select the date you wish to receive the call and complete the registration form which includes your name, email address, and the resident you wish to call. On the day of your call we will email with the link to the call and confirm the time that the call will take place.

There is no charge for these calls, you must simply have access to an email account, a camera, and a microphone, which most smartphones, tablets, and laptops come standard with.

We look forward to connecting with you and hope that you will register for a call very soon. If you have any questions about the video conferencing system please call 316-744-2020.

Hope to hear from you soon!!

The health and safety of residents living in our community is our top priority, and we are closely monitoring the ongoing situation regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). We understand that COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, and we want to be communicative and transparent in the steps Catholic Care Center is taking to prepare our community during this unprecedented event. Our team has been working tirelessly to prepare for possible scenarios related to COVID-19.

We’ve developed a series of precautionary steps that our community is implementing to help reduce everyone’s risk of COVID-19.

Our community is:

• Continuing to follow the guidance from both the CDC and local health authorities
• Increasing the frequency and rigor of cleaning and sanitizing common community areas
• Encouraging a temporary reduction in deliveries
• Prohibiting visitor from entering campus and cancelling community events
• Reviewing our emergency preparedness and response program
• Asking residents to communicate any travel plans
• Coordinating best practices and across our large partner network
• Making the CDC’s COVID-19 prevention resources and recommendations available to all residents

According to the CDC, many of our residents are at a higher risk for serious illness, and we’re providing all residents and their families with the most up-to-date guidance from the CDC and local health officials on the steps they can take to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

We are strongly encouraging all our residents to follow the CDC’s guidelines for individuals at higher risk, which includes:

• Avoiding crowds and large social gatherings
• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting personal spaces
• Avoiding touching your face
• Regularly washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Stay in your residence if you are showing flu-like symptoms or are sick with respiratory illness, including fever, and coughing

These are simple yet important steps that we should all be taking to protect ourselves and our community.

Our teams are staying in communication with local health officials and will share regular updates on COVID-19. For more the most up to date information and personal health recommendations, please visit the websites below:

COVID-19 Prevention Recommendations:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html

COVID-19 Symptoms:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

What To Do If You Think You Are Sick:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf

We also encourage you to visit our Facebook page where we will share information as it becomes available and host a daily Facebook Live prayer service each day at 2:00.
Facebook.com/CatholicCareCenter

Dear CCC Family Member,

In recent weeks the world has faced challenges not seen for generations, and here at Catholic Care Center we continue to work to overcome these challenges and protect the residents and associates of our ministry. As we move forward in our efforts, I’d like to take a moment to update you on the current situation at Catholic Care.

We continue to monitor the health of all associates and residents. Every associate is screened for fever and other signs of illness upon reporting for work; resident temperatures are also checked every shift to ensure that they are well. We have implemented a new protocol for associates that mandates them to wear a mask while working to provide another layer of security for residents and associates. To date, we have no presumed or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community and feel that the attention we have given to screening, cleaning, and limiting the number of people in the building have all contributed to this positive outcome.

In an effort to continue proactively protecting the community, we continue to prohibit visitors from entering the building. We have also limited the frequency of outside agencies entering including pharmacy, podiatry, and hospice. We feel confident that with the help of our dedicated clinical teams and the leadership of medical directors, Dr. Womack and Dr. Mijares, that we can support the needs of our residents during the interim period while lessening their exposure to outside personnel.

One of the greatest challenges we face is resident engagement and we have worked diligently to create opportunities for enrichment and exercise while still adhering to the guidelines set forth by the CDC and CMS for social distancing. Residents are enjoying activities in groups of 5 or less, maintaining a 6’ distance from one another, they are dining in their rooms with assistance as needed, and they are benefiting from one-on-one interactions with staff. The health and happiness of the residents we serve is our greatest priority and we are doing everything possible to ensure their wellbeing.

Finally, I’d like to thank all of you for your prayers, support, and kindness during these past few weeks. We have enjoyed seeing many of you during video calls with your loved ones, appreciated the small treats and notes of encouragement you have sent our staff, and are overwhelmed by the heartfelt prayers and appreciation you have conveyed to our team. Thank you for your support during this difficult time. We pray for you as well and look forward to the day that we are together again for fun and fellowship.
Sincerely,

Cindy LaFleur
Executive Director
Catholic Care Center

Dear CCC Family Member,

At Catholic Care Center we are committed to the health and safety of our residents, families, and associates.  In light of the current concerns over the world wide outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) we are implementing new visitor protocols in the hopes of safeguarding our community from exposure from this debilitating virus.

Starting immediately visitors may come into the building through only the main Long-Term Care entrance or the Assisted Living Administration entrance.  All visitors will be screened and any visitor who is deemed to have been at risk to exposure to the virus or who is exhibiting symptoms will not be granted entry.  No visitors under the age of 14 will be permitted to enter.   Visiting hours for those who may enter will also be limited to the hours between 7:00am to 7:00pm.

If you would answer yes to any of the following questions, please help protect our residents by refraining from coming onto campus:

• Are you are experiencing fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea, or vomiting?
• Have you recently traveled outside of the continental United States (including on a cruise ship), or have you been in contact with someone who has?
• Have you been in contact with anyone suspect to or confirmed to have the Coronavirus?

Additionally we will continue to monitor the need to limit, postpone, or cancel campus events and will work to communicate those changes in a timely manner.

While we hope that these measures are taken in an abundance of caution and that all of residents, families, associates, and friends will be spared from this illness, we appreciate your support of our efforts to help ensure the health and safety of those we are blessed to serve.

Please feel free to call or email with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Cindy LaFleur
Executive Director
Catholic Care Center