PITTSFIELD, Mass. Over the course of three weeks, CVS staff visited almost all of the 43 BCArc residential programs, vaccinating BCArc staff and the individuals with disabilities who live in the homes.

With the first round complete, the second and final shot is scheduled for February.

"This is a great opportunity for our staff and I’m glad most of them took advantage of it," Ken Singer, President & CEO said. "They worked through the entire pandemic, 24-7. So while it is a privilege to be part of Phase I, they earned it and I’m so proud of the way they took care of the individuals we serve. A recent meeting with the families of the BCArc community gave our staff the highest of marks."

Employees who missed the first round can still receive the vaccination, and as new staff join BCArc, they will have access to the vaccine as well, given their status as essential workers.

A number of homes were quarantined and missed the first round of shots. They will be scheduled for the vaccine once they are cleared by the Board of Health.

"So many people deserve credit for this," Singer said. "While I’d like to one day say that BCArc is 100 percent vaccinated, for now every person in the BCArc community who has been vaccinated protects all of us that much more."