Salem Township Hospital Administrator Kendra Taylor said the hospital would step up its role in vaccinating the large number in the 1B category.
She noted after the hospital board meeting Wednesday they initially thought their role would be limited to medical personnel, but with the huge demand, they are now planning weekly clinics.
“How much we can order, how much we have been given of the vaccine but we certainly know and understand the need and so we are trying to schedule some vaccine clinics. Our goal is to try to schedule them on a weekly basis as long as we have the vaccine supply to offer to be able to do that.”
Taylor says the hospital is now keeping a waiting list of those who want to receive the vaccine. To get on the list, she says to call the main hospital number, 548-3194, and then extension 8138.
Taylor said the 100 doses that were ordered were utilized in clinics this week, including 40 off their waiting list, ten to Salem Police Officers, and 30 who needed the second shot in the series.
She reports while the Marion County Health Department is aware of what they are doing, there is no coordination between them on lists for those who want to be vaccinated.
Taylor says the hospital has seen a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases as the county’s positivity rate has fallen over the past month. She notes that is allowing the hospital to relax its visitation guidelines.
“We are allowing a visitor care partner for the patients that need to be. We still do not have large numbers but we certainly are allowing a visitor to be with the patient.”
Taylor says they are also reopening the Bistro and cafeteria to those who want to visit the hospital. They will have to go through medical protocol and wear a mask.
