Christopher Homes residents in Slidell, LaPlace, to receive COVID-19 vaccine this week

Above: A masked Christopher Homes resident receives his flu shot in this file photo taken last year. (Photo courtesy of Christopher Homes)

Christopher Homes, the low-income senior housing ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, is working with local health leaders and pharmacies to coordinate the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to its residents.

The vaccination roll-out follows months of efforts to keep senior residents safe and healthy through mitigation efforts and convenient, on-site COVID testing, said Deacon Dennis Adams, Christopher Homes’ executive director, whose agency manages 21 properties that house about 2,500 people ages 62 and older.

Residents of St. Teresa’s Villa in Slidell will be the first Christopher Homes residents to receive the vaccinations. Jordan Thibodeaux, pharmacist with the Medicine Shoppe in Slidell, will provide and administer 100 vaccinations to residents and staff beginning Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Residents and staff of Place Dubourg in LaPlace will be next to receive the vaccination. Andrew Gomila, pharmacist with the Medicine Shoppe in LaPlace, will provide and administer 100 vaccinations to that senior community.

“This is an exciting first step in the process of offering vaccinations to residents at every Christopher Homes properties,” Deacon Adams said.

“The essence of the mission of Christopher Homes is our response to the call of the Gospel. The Gospel – or ‘Good News’ message of our Lord – is one of faith and hope,” Deacon Adams added. “We see the arrival of the COVID vaccine for our residents as one of faith in God, who continues to watch over us, and hope that we have turned a corner in our efforts to protect seniors from the dreadful virus.”

Deacon Adams also thanked Christopher Homes staff “for the hard work they continue to do, caring for our residents, and for the many partners we have who support us in our mission and ministry."