Salem Township Hospital President Kendra Taylor says they are ready to begin administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to front line staff when the 75 doses arrive on Wednesday.
She reports a list has been put together of those who wish to receive the vaccine.
“Hospital-wide there is a mixed reaction as far as those who are wanting to take it in Phase 1a, but we do have a number of individuals who are ready to receive that so we will start with those and as we receive further shipments we will go through the rest of our healthcare workers.”
Taylor has spent her working life as a nurse and says she will receive her vaccine.
“A registered nurse and still having the opportunity to work bedside will definitely receive my COVID-19 vaccine. I think this is going to be an instrumental step in helping us to combat this and start to return to a level of normalcy and being able to move on into the new year. I do think it’s important that everyone gets their immunization as soon as it becomes available.”
Taylor says the hospital does not have the ultra-cold storage necessary to keep the Pfizer vaccine for more than five days so it isn’t practical to use at this point for public vaccinations. However, she reports the Moderna vaccine that is expected to be approved by the FDA on Thursday does not require ultra-cold refrigeration and the hospital will be able to use that vaccine for public vaccinations at the Rural
Health Clinic and the West Whittaker Street Medical Building when allowed.
Both SSM Health St. Mary’s and Good Samaritan Hospitals are also expected to begin vaccinations of front line workers on Wednesday. A total of 575 doses will be available between the two hospitals. The hospitals have added the ultra code refrigeration for the Pfizer vaccine.
Jefferson and Clinton County Health Departments are also in line to be among the first to receive the vaccine since their death rates are also in the top 50 counties in the state.
The Clinton County Health Department reports 300 doses will arrive at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese on Wednesday with administration to front line health care workers from throughout the county.
Photo: Salem Township Hospital Administrator Kendra Taylor.
