English 
Spanish 
Two Sisters, 102 and 99 Years Old, Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Together
Helen Ficke, 102 (left), and Sammy Pemberton, 99 (right)
Warrensburg, MO (March 5, 2021)—Sisters Helen Ficke, 102, and Sammy Pemberton, 99, from Chilhowee, Mo., received their COVID-19 vaccine together in hopes to reunite with their family again.
The sisters received their first dose during Western Missouri Medical Center’s (WMMC) vaccine clinic at the University of Central Missouri on March 1, 2021. Helen and Sammy say they now feel safe and are excited to see their family again very soon.
Helen and Sammy, both life-long residents of Chilhowee, understand the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Born in 1918 during the Spanish influenza pandemic, Helen remembers her mother’s stories about how dangerous it was.
Helen says she has “never been sick a day in her life.” She never even suffered from the common cold. At first, she was reluctant to receive the vaccine because she thought it wasn’t necessary for her health. Ultimately, the sisters decided to get the vaccine because Helen and Sammy wanted to do their part to protect themselves and others.
Helen and Sammy are neighbors, talk at least twice a day, and have been each other’s supporters during the entire pandemic. They have never gone more than a week or two without seeing each other and decided to receive the vaccine together. They are now looking forward to spending more time with Helen’s son, Dale, and their three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Helen and Sammy made their decision during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect themselves and others around them. If you are interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, register at WMMC.com/Vaccine.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eleanore Eye
Marketing Manager
(660) 262-7472
Other Recent Posts by WMMC:
WMMC and Cerner Partner for Virtual Visits
WMMC Announces New Non-Interventional Pain Clinic
About Western Missouri Medical Center
Western Missouri Medical Center (WMMC) is a fully-accredited acute care county medical center located in Warrensburg, MO. WMMC prides itself in emergency care, obstetrics, orthopedic and general surgery, family healthcare, internal medicine, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care, rehabilitation services and more. Inpatient services include medical, surgical, intensive, obstetrical, orthopedic, pediatric and skilled nursing care, as well as a wide range of therapeutic and diagnostic outpatient services. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Learn more at WMMC.com