FAIRBURY, NE — The COVID-19 vaccine has arrived for senior citizens in Jefferson County.

Jefferson Community Health and Life in Fairbury held its first vaccination clinic today at the local Presbyterian church. Our camera didn’t have access to the clinic for privacy reasons but I did talk with Homer and Max Ward who each received their first dose today. They say getting the shot is a big relief.

“I hope that we can see our kids who live in all these far away places - get to see them more,” Max Ward said.

It’s been a long year for Homer and Max and many of the area’s most vulnerable residents. The Wards have kids living in Kansas and Colorado and haven’t seen them in a year because they don’t want to chance catching the coronavirus.

“We would like to have the freedom right now but you don’t feel comfortable with it because you know it’s not working,” Homer Ward said.

About 100 of the area’s oldest residents are a step closer to feeling more freedom today. The Public Health Solutions district is moving into Phase 1B of the state’s vaccine plan, which prioritizes those 65 and older. JCH&L is starting with its oldest patients and working down.

Family Medicine Doctor Brett Wergin says this is a critical step in pandemic response.

“We’re really excited to just get started on vaccinating the community," Wergin said. "The hospital clinic staff, we’ve all been vaccinated to this point, we’ve just been waiting to get the rest of the community and the people in the county vaccinated so we can take these steps to get our numbers down.”

As far as the process to actually receive the shot, the Wards say it’s simple.

“They were very, very well organized," Homer Ward said. "They had everything ready, they knew where you were going to be, they moved you through rather quickly. It was really very easy.”

JCHL plans to host the clinics like this every week but will adjust with the vaccine supply.