Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Patrick Heery delivers a lively outdoor service of healing and prayer at The Commons on St. Anthony for residents and staff. The nursing home was besieged with more than 180 cases of COVID-19 and more than 20 deaths.
Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen
A viral post on social media and an article published on an obscure website falsely suggest that there may be a link between the timing of COVID-19 vaccinations and deaths at a nursing home in Auburn.
The reports refer to reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak at The Commons on St. Anthony in Auburn. More than 180 employees and residents of the plant tested positive for the virus. At least 28 residents died after testing positive for COVID-19.
The authors of the reports, which The Citizen does not disclose to prevent the spread of false and misleading information, suggest the possibility that there is a link between the deaths and the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine at retirement home.
However, there are key facts that are omitted from the claims. The Commons, run by Loretto, began vaccinating employees and residents on December 22nd. Before the first vaccination clinic, the nursing home had already had a COVID-19 outbreak. Loretto spokeswoman Julie Sheedy told The Citizen that the outbreak began in December after Thanksgiving.
“Given the incubation period we know for this virus, our facility was affected before vaccines were available to be administered,” Sheedy wrote in an email Monday. “We definitely want the vaccines available earlier to prevent the devastation caused by this virus.”