Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Who's vaccinated (and not) ?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

At Takoma Village, what  I was most impressed with when the pandemic began was 
how quickly those with experience in community health services, military units, 
and risk assessment came together as a group to discuss options. They drew up a 
list of recommendations, purchased gallons of Clorox, set up a schedule for 
decontaminating surfaces in the CH, adjusted the calendar so events were 
cancelled or altered to maintain distance, and kept a list of people who were 
vaccinated. Since I didn’t drive and was able to isolate easily, I was 
“delaying” dealing with getting vaccinated so someone in the group scheduled an 
appointment and arranged to drive me. Masks were required in public areas. 

They weren’t autocratic about it, just serious and specific. Anyone could have 
raised objections at any point. To my knowledge everyone was eventually 
vaccinated and the group announced the percentages as we went along. At least 
some of us continued to pay cleaners at full or partial rates when they were 
not allowed on the property.

Two households with young children bubbled together and did home schooling in 
the CH kids room. The Exercise Room was set up with an hour between 
individually scheduled hours. Guests were highly discouraged and cleaners 
cancelled. Use of the CH dining for groups was “banned.” People who needed a 
place to work did reserve smaller rooms (office, game room, etc) for single 
person use.

All residents were kept up to date on new vaccinatins available and where tests 
could be ordered. Tests were shared widely. People announced when they were 
exposed and quarantined themselves as recommended.  Contamination and 
restrictions were eliminated or altered as new information became available. 
People who were immune compromised would ask that masks still be worn when they 
were in attendance. 

When people went back to their offices, there were a rash of cases reported, 
some having the virus several times. And people continue even today to test and 
report.

I think Takoma Village is particularly aware since we have residents who work 
at NIH and have been or were current members of military forces. We didn’t’ 
have anyone who announced their opposition to being vaccinated but with all the 
restrictions in place, one person running around unmasked in public would have 
been isolated. And avoided.

With the clear and visible reminders throughout, I wouldn’t think anyone would 
have to have “official” bans for the unvaccinated. I think that is a better way 
to approach it than to making rules about what people have to do. We assumed 
they would follow intelligent reasoned practices and no one questioned that.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Riderwood Village, Silver Spring MD