‘Been wanting this for a long time’

Mother, daughter grateful to be vaccinated at home

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

Ramsey, wheelchairbound 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.

BEN HASTY — MEDIANEWS GROUP Johannie Rodriguez, a licensed practical nurse, and Jennifer Grandstrom, a registered nurse, arrive at Connie Ramsey’s house in Spring Township on Thursday to give her and her daughter, Jodie, doses of the Moderna COVID-19vaccine. Nurses from the Berks Community Health Center partnered with the Berks County Area Agency on Aging to provide in-home vaccinations for people who are homebound.

Connie Ramsey gives a thumbs up as Johannie Rodriguez, a licensed practical nurse, gives her a dose of the Moderna COVID-19vaccine on Thursday in her home in Spring Township. Sitting next to Ramsey is her daughter, Jodie. Nurses from the Berks Community Health Center partnered with the Berks County Area Agency on Aging to provide inhome vaccinations for people who are homebound.

Johannie Rodriguez, a licensed practical nurse, gives Jodie Ramsey a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Thursday at Ramsey’s home in Spring Township. Sitting next to Ramsey is her mother, Connie. Nurses from the Berks Community Health Center partnered with the Berks County Area Agency on Aging to provide in-home vaccinations for people who are homebound.