Seniors, staff at Bickford of St. Charles celebrate receiving COVID-19 vaccine

Jane Brehm has been patiently waiting for the day she will able to see her children and grandchildren again.

After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, Brehm, a resident at Bickford of St. Charles, hopes that day will come sooner rather than later.

“I can finally see my three daughters and six grandchildren,” said the 73-year-old, who has lived at the assisted living and memory care facility for five years.

It was a day of celebration at the facility. As part of the celebration, residents like Brehm had the chance to swing at a coronavirus-shaped piñata and staff members donned shirts emblazoned with the message “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

As residents and staff members were receiving their vaccinations, the Pat Benatar song “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” played in the background. Bickford of St. Charles Executive Director Colleen Lesher said the vaccinations will help the facility return to normalcy, although social distancing and mask wearing will continue.

“I don’t think that will go away for a long time,” she said. “But residents won’t have to be isolated in their rooms any more. We did a good job here. We didn’t get our first case of COVID until Nov. 6.”

The facility has not had any COVID deaths. Those who received their vaccinations today will receive a second shot on Feb. 17.

Lesher said the facility wanted to make the vaccination process fun in part to alleviate any fears about getting vaccinated. She was among those who were vaccinated on Wednesday and has not experienced any ill effects.

“I feel fine,” she said.

Kathy Cotter, the RN coordinator at Bickford of St. Charles, said those who were vaccinated on Wednesday understood the importance of doing so.

“They know this is a step toward getting this over,” she said.

The facility has not had any COVID-19 cases for 30 days.

“Kane County just sent me an e-mail this morning that said we were out of outbreak status and that we had been out for a while and that we can stop testing our residents,” Cotter said. “The residents are thrilled. We see a light at the end of the tunnel.”