Mother, daughter get 2nd COVID-19 shot at Jacksonville long-term care facility

River City Rehabilitation Center says 95% of residents have been vaccinated

River City Rehabilitation Center receptionist Angela Smith (right) and her 86-year-old mother got their second COVID-19 shot on Tuesday. (WJXT)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine started being administered Tuesday morning to residents and staff at the River City Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville.

The long-term care facility was the first in the state to vaccinate residents and staff through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pharmacy Partnership. Twenty-one days later, the second shot was given to the same 70 residents and staff, giving them some peace of mind that their health is more protected than before.

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“It has to be complete in order for it to work, and it meant a lot to me for me and mom to get it done at the same time. That way we can make sure we got vaccinated, and that’s one less person the U.S. CDC has to worry about,” said receptionist Angela Smith.

Smith and her 86-year-old mother got their second shot on Tuesday as Florida health officials follow through with their promise of vaccinating long-term care facilities first. Smith and her mother said they had no side effects from the first shot.

The remaining 70 River City Rehab residents and staff will get their second dose on Wednesday, according to the executive director.

Smith said she’s going to continue social distancing as much as possible while encouraging others to get the vaccine.

“If people have questions about the vaccine, if in doubt, get a pen and paper, call your primary care doctor or specialists, talk it over with your family member,” she said.

According to administrators at River City Rehab, patients are being checked around the clock to ensure that the residents don’t experience any side effects.

At last check, 95% of the residents had been vaccinated.

The vaccine is not mandatory.


About the Author:

Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.