MERRILL – Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital began providing COVID-19 vaccinations to frontline caregivers on Thursday, Jan. 7.
Radiologic Technologist Jason Romig and Patient Access Representative Amber LePage were among the first Merrill based Ascension associates to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The effort is part of a multi-phased program that will expand to other caregivers and locations as more doses become available and the distribution process progresses.
“We are confident our plan will effectively and safely contribute to the protection of the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Gregory Brusko,DO, Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension Wisconsin.
Ascension Wisconsin is following guidance issued by the CDC and recommendations of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
“We are thankful for all who have made this vaccine possible and for the continued dedication of our selfless caregivers,” said Jonathon Matuszewski, Chief Administrative Officer, Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital . “Our initial vaccine distribution will include our frontline healthcare workers and will soon reach out to include community EMS partners. As we await widespread distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, it will be critical for our entire community to continue wearing masks, watching distance from others and washing hands frequently to protect ourselves and those around us.”
In accordance with these guidelines, among the first group eligible to receive the vaccines are frontline caregivers – particularly those serving in emergency departments, COVID-19 units and intensive care units. For Ascension, this includes both associates and affiliated physicians and providers.
Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have demonstrated safety and effectiveness, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine for emergency use.
The vaccination of frontline caregivers comes after Ascension developed a workgroup to establish an overarching framework for equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccines for internal and external distribution, acknowledging the need for a coordinated response.
“We strongly encourage all our associates to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it is made available to them,” said Bernie Sherry, ministry market executive, Ascension Wisconsin. “In our view, this is the right thing to do to protect our associates and those we are privileged to serve.”
All approved vaccines require extensive research, documentation and closely monitored clinical trials to determine effectiveness and safety before being submitted by pharmaceutical companies for approval. Ascension has been involved in some of these clinical trials, with Ascension St. Vincent’s in Birmingham, Alabama, participating in trials for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna.
“It’s vitally important that people continue to access the healthcare they need, for both emergencies and chronic conditions,” said Brusko. “By encouraging our caregivers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, we are taking an additional step to assure those we serve that we are doing everything possible to keep our hospitals, clinics and other sites of care safe for them.”
Ascension hospitals and emergency rooms remain well prepared to safely care for people with symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, respiratory distress, emergent mental health concerns, or other serious illness or injury.
Many healthcare workers and first responders are receiving the earliest wave of available vaccines, as these professions are exposed to COVID-19 at higher rates. Residents of long-term care facilities and those with high-risk health conditions also are slated to receive vaccines early, per guidelines from the CDC.
When COVID-19 vaccines are available for consumers, Ascension Wisconsin sites of care will share information about the availability of the vaccines.
Additional information, including FAQs, about the COVID-19 vaccine is available at https://healthcare.ascension.org/covid-19/covid-vaccine.
About Ascension Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Ascension operates 24 hospital campuses, more than 100 related healthcare facilities and employs more than 1,200 primary and specialty care clinicians from Racine to Eagle River. Serving Wisconsin since 1848, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care–including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities–in 19 states and the District of Columbia.