Residents of Baton Rouge nursing home eager to receive first doses of COVID-19 vaccine

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Residents at the Ollie Steele nursing home in Baton Rouge were eager to receive their first round of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, Jan. 4.

WAFB’s Donovan Jackson spoke with resident Colleen Landreneau who received her first COVID-19 vaccination shot.

Landreneau says she has big plans once she’s fully vaccinated.

Donovan Jackson: “Are you looking forward to seeing your family soon, once you receive the second vaccine?”

Landreneau: “Most of all to see the family and go to mass and church.”

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Many residents of the Ollie Steele nursing home told WAFB that family was the driving force for why they chose to get the vaccine Monday morning.

Donovan Jackson: “How does it feel having the vaccination?”

Myrtle Saxon: “It makes me feel safe and well cared for.”

Myrtle Saxon happily greeted our camera crew before getting her first shot, she didn’t even flinch..she says her kids and grandkids gave her the courage today.

“I’ve been seeing them every day and we try to touch our elbows like this and even sneaking under the table and touching toes,” Saxon explains.

Saxon like millions of our most at-risk community members in nursing homes across the country is eager to move past this unpredictable virus.

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Heather Bauder, Ollie Steele’s director of senior services, tells WAFB she was surprised to see nearly all of the folks living here opt-in for the vaccine.

“I’ve never seen such a quick turnaround time to turn in the consent forms,” Bauder says.

Bauder says she is hopeful this will be the first step for health care workers and folks living here to get past a rough, year-long battle.

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