Berks agencies partner to give mother and daughter COVID vaccine at home

Holly Herman, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 15—As the nurses arrived at Connie Ramsey's home in Stone Hills Farms in Spring Township, the 66-year-old mother was overjoyed Thursday that she was about to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Ramsey, wheelchair-bound and caring for her 44-year-old daughter, Jodie, who has cerebral palsy, was worried she would not be able to get the two of them vaccinated.

"I feel like this is a birthday party," Connie said after receiving her shot. "It doesn't hurt at all. I am just so happy. I've been wanting this for a long time."

Berks County's Area Agency on Aging partnered with the Berks Community Health Center for a program to vaccinate homebound residents.

"The homebound seniors of Berks County are one of the most vulnerable populations during this time of need," Mary Kargbo, CEO and president of the Berks Community Health Center said in a press release. "This collaboration is representative of BCHC's commitment to ensure that all residents have access to the COVID vaccine and receive the care they need and deserve."

Ramsey said she made numerous calls to lawmakers seeking help setting up a home vaccination.

Thanks to the center, a federally funded clinic in downtown Reading, the mother and daughter both got Moderna shots.

Ramsey couldn't thank the nurses enough for coming to her home.

"I knew about what was going on, but I didn't know how I was going to get a shot," Connie Ramsey said.

Jodie joked that her mom was more nervous about getting the shot.

"I didn't feel it all," Jodie Ramsey said, smiling proudly.

The Ramseys were the first two of 25 at-home shots scheduled Thursday for those who are unable to leave their homes.

Jennifer Grandstrom, director of operations at the health center, 838 Penn St., said the program was a one-day event. She is hopeful additional at-home visits will be scheduled in the future.

The nurses scheduled a second shot for the Ramseys in three weeks.

Ramsey said that it's been a tough year living with COVID, and not being able to have caregivers at times.

"We are tough," Jodie chimed in.

The mother and daughter thanked the nurses who were soon off to their next vaccination.