193 Fully Vaccinated At Woburn's New Horizons At Choate

Press release from New Horizons at Choate:

WOBURN, MA — New Horizons at Choate senior living community is abuzz with abundantly renewed optimism after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on February 4. A total of 193 residents and staff at the Woburn campus have now been fully vaccinated.

With the Commonwealth reporting vaccine shortages, New Horizons is among the first retirement communities to complete both rounds of vaccinations.

“We’re all feeling a potent mix of gratitude and hope today,” said New Horizons executive director Christine Coakley. “Yesterday’s vaccine clinic was an important milestone as we continue to focus on minimizing any future risk of coronavirus on our campus.”

Thursday’s vaccination clinic was completed by North Woburn’s CVS Pharmacy, whose staff had visited the Warren Avenue campus three weeks earlier to administer the first dose.

“It’s another landmark day,” said New Horizons resident Lillian Braudis upon receiving her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. At nearly 101 years old, Braudis is currently the most senior member of the New Horizons community.

Joyful residents celebrated the day’s events with a champagne toast at dinner.

Encouraging results from COVID-19 testing performed earlier this week have enhanced the air of excitement pervading the community. Of the 141 residents and staff tested, every one returned a negative result.

“New Horizons has been so fortunate to have a remarkably low incidence of the virus throughout the pandemic,” said Coakley, a lifelong Woburn resident with a 26-year tenure at New Horizons. “And we all know that now is not the time to abandon caution. We will continue adhering to all recommended safety guidelines in the weeks and months to come.”

Construction was just completed on a brand-new residence wing at the Warren Avenue community, which has routinely been 100 percent occupied for more than two decades before this new expansion was completed. The “Courtyard Suites” wing’s 17 oversized apartments are currently available for immediate occupancy.

“With so many local folks facing a long and isolating winter, we are looking forward to welcoming new residents to our nearly fully vaccinated community,” said Coakley.

This press release was produced by Mayor Scott Galvin's office. The views expressed are the author's own.