We believe the vaccines are quite safe, with nearly 100,000 individuals participating in clinical trials thus far. Scientists throughout the world have been working nonstop, and in many cases collaboratively, to develop effective vaccines to protect people from COVID-19’s devastating effects.

Touchmark remains committed to providing a safe community for all who live and work in our communities. We continue to closely follow the guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention as well as local health and governmental agencies. We have also taken it a step further by investing in our own Accula™ SARS-CoV-2 testing machines for COVID-19. As guidelines change frequently, we encourage you to call to learn more about the current operations at your local Touchmark community.
Click here for a letter from our CEO regarding COVID-19 vaccines
TESTING MACHINES COMING TO CAMPUS
Touchmark has proactively purchased Accula™ SARS-CoV-2 test machines for on-campus use to arrange safer indoor family visits during the winter. Though we initially received the BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 test machines as part of the initiative led by the federal government earlier this year, we knew this testing method was only ideal for diagnosing COVID-19 when symptoms are present. It was less accurate when symptoms are not present, and an additional PCR test would be needed to confirm results. While they are a positive piece of our overall defense, the Accula machine tests provide a more reliable test result, even when asymptomatic.


RESIDENT FLEXIBILITY & FAMILY VISITS
Residents may request Accula tests in order to come and go from the community more freely and for longer periods of time without needing to quarantine upon return. Family members and loved ones who wish to visit residents on campus are now able to sign up for a same-day Accula test and visit. Please note that even with a negative test result, residents and visitors will still need to be screened upon entry or reentry to the community and wear a mask in shared spaces. See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for further details on this process, pricing, and protocols.
UPCOMING PLANS & OPERATIONS
For 40 years and counting, we have remained committed to the well-being of all who live and work here. Right now, this means we continue the methods we know keep us safe, including wearing our masks when around others, avoiding crowds, washing our hands and using hand sanitizer frequently, remaining 6 feet apart from others outside our households, and limiting nonessential travel into public spaces.
Touchmark is also developing our plans regarding an eventual COVID-19 vaccine. We submitted our COVID-19 vaccine registration request by the federal government’s November 6 deadline, which means we will be able to provide prioritized vaccinations to all residents and team members once an FDA-approved vaccine is available.
While it isn’t easy maintaining a high level of caution for this long, we are excited to share this new option for connecting with loved ones. We are filled with gratitude for your resilience and understanding as we all work together.


Touchmark Champions
Touchmark Champions are team members who exemplify making smart decisions in all aspects of their lives to protect residents and their fellow team members.
The Full Life Continues
As is the case with any vaccine or injection, like influenza and tetanus, some people may experience a sore arm or body aches with chills as a potential side effect. Still, if they occur, they typically last a day or so.
We do not believe individuals will have a choice in the initial, prioritized distribution of this vaccine; however, we are continuing to monitor the recommended allocation of the different vaccines.
Yes, until we have more information, masking and following the proven protocols we have been following will still be necessary after vaccination. Reliable scientific evidence has shown that immunization keeps people from getting sick from COVID-19, but we do not know if vaccinated individuals still might acquire and unknowingly infect others around them.
Yes, the clinical trials showed that people will be protected from getting ill from the virus after completing the full vaccination process.
The vaccine has been shown to have effective short-term protection, but we do not currently know if vaccine booster shots will be needed to maintain long-term protection. Many common vaccines, such as tetanus and the flu, require regular booster applications.
Touchmark is dedicated to bringing residents and families together as soon as safely possible. We know that once a large percentage of the population is vaccinated, everyone’s overall risk is greatly reduced. Just as we have done throughout the pandemic, we will remain in close contact with local and national health and governmental agencies, which will provide guidance on when visitations can resume.
Based on the currently available science, the vaccine’s immune response seems to be stronger than the immune response from a natural infection. For this reason, the vaccine is recommended even for those who have already had the virus.
The amazing rate of development of these vaccines was made possible by advances in vaccine science that were already in place before the pandemic, in addition to the urgency and significant monetary investments made when the pandemic started. Because close to 100,000 individuals of varying ages participated in the clinical trials, we believe they are safe, and, as with all new drugs and vaccines, we will learn more with time and usage.
People of all ages and backgrounds have experienced long-lasting health effects after contracting COVID-19, and far too many have passed away. We also know that older adults are 600% more likely to pass away from this virus.
This page was last updated on 2/4/2021.