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Fountain Circle Care & Rehabilitation in Winchester, along with other Signature HealthCARE nursing homes in 10 states, has received and administered the first round of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, according to Lisa Collier, the director.

Collier said they began giving the shots, which were received through a partnership with Walgreens, on Dec. 22, and the second round is scheduled for Jan. 22.

All of Kentucky’s 42 Signature facilities began receiving the vaccine the week of Christmas.

The distribution is being done in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The impact of COVID-19 has affected everyone around the globe and our nation,” Ann Bowdan Wilder, a spokesperson for Signature HealthCARE, said in a news release. “The need for a vaccine, for all, is clear and pronounced by the current COVID-19 cases and heartbreaking losses of life. We are grateful that Phase 1 of the CDC’s recommended prioritized distribution schedule is happening right now for those who are most at risk, our residents, and for those who care for them, our frontline healthcare heroes.”

Since March 7, Fountain Circle has had 100 residents and more than 60 employees who have contracted COVID-19, and eight of the residents died of COVID-related causes. However, the home succeeded in ending the outbreak, and according to a report on the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ kycovid19 website, there are currently no active cases.

“We have not had any in a long time,” Collier said.

“It’s hard to express in words the relief and gratitude we have that our leaders have accurately considered the data and heard our petitions for more aid and have responded accordingly with swift action and support in regard to the dissemination of this historical vaccine,” Joe Steier, president and chief executive officer of Signature HealthCARE, said in a statement.

“I can’t even imagine where we would be societally and psychologically had we not received the news of the availability of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines,” Dr. Arif Nazir, chief medical officer for Signature HealthCARE and president of Signature HealthCARE Medical Partners, said in the news release. “The credible research that shows these vaccines are very safe and are almost 95 percent effective is nothing less than a lifeline for our communities and for the world in general.”