Photos by Deb Gau Residents at Boulder Estates in Marshall received their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday morning. Residents including Marie Miller rolled up their sleeves so Southwest Health and Human Services nurses could administer the vaccines. The mood at the vaccine clinic was upbeat. One banner said Boulder Estates residents were “taking their best shot” by getting vaccinated for COVID.

MARSHALL — The dining room was decked out with banners — but this something more than a regular holiday or celebration. The Boulder Estates residents waiting their turn to sit down at a table Thursday were ready to get their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

“It was very simple, no problem,” said Patrick Byrne after he got his shot.

Residents said they were glad to be able to get vaccinated.

“About 99% of our tenants had wanted to do it,” said Boulder Estates Executive Director Jim Knudson.

Southwest Health and Human Services offered COVID-19 vaccinations at Boulder Estates on Thursday morning. Residents could sign up for a time slot to meet with a public health nurse and get their shots.

Minnesota is currently in the very first phase of its plan for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As part of that phase, the Minnesota Department of Health is prioritizing health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities to get the vaccine first. Some Marshall area residents, including front-line staff at hospitals, emergency medical responders and residents of some long-term care facilities have already been vaccinated.

Boulder Estates had been in conversations to get residents vaccinated “for quite some time,” Knudson said. Some assisted living facilities are getting their doses of COVID-19 vaccine by working together with large pharmacy chains. Others, like Boulder Estates, are working with their local public health agencies, Knudson said. In Boulder Estates’ case, that meant Southwest Health and Human Services.

Boulder Estates staff had a chance to get their first COVID shots earlier this week, while Thursday’s clinic was for residents and staff who weren’t able to get vaccinated earlier, Knudson said.

SWHHS staff said the clinic at Boulder Estates was one of several they’re doing at long-term care facilities in the region. SWHHS had given vaccines in Cottonwood earlier this week, and would be holding vaccine clinics at facilities in Murray, Redwood and Rock Counties soon.

The mood was upbeat at Thursday’s vaccine clinic. Posters on the dining room walls at Boulder Estates had slogans like “Giving it our best shot!” Nurses and Boulder Estates staff also had stickers for each person who got the COVID vaccine.

Boulder Estates residents said they felt good about being able to get a vaccine.

“I’m happy to have it done with,” said resident Lew Weeks.

With a vaccine, there was hope that people would no longer have to stay as isolated from each other, residents said.

“Then maybe we can get back to normal,” said resident Grace Wegner.