Valley Health Starts Pfizer Vaccine | Winchester Star

He received shipments from Pfizer-BioNTech said it had gathered quickly in the last few days. This was especially important in the large snowstorms predicted today.

“We have a vaccine clinic,” he said on Monday. “I’ll get there before it snows.”

Vaccinations began Tuesday afternoon at four Virginia hospitals in Valley Health, but Feit said it would take nearly a week to administer shots to patients in the first round. All patients work with COVID-19 patients and are at risk of becoming infected with the virus.

“It will be carried over on Sunday,” he said. “We are just the beginning of a long process.”

The Virginia Department of Health announced an additional 3,160 state-wide COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, and the Lord Fairfax Health District added 155 new cases, exciting the hospital atmosphere in the vaccinated area. It was one of my hopes.

“This was a very exciting and important day for caregivers and communities,” said Dr. Iyad Sabbagh, Chief Medical Officer of Valley Health, in a news release Tuesday afternoon.

“Since March, our healthcare professionals have been challenged in ways unimaginable a year ago. Since then, the vaccine has been shining at the end of the tunnel.”

Valley Health is the first organization to receive a vaccine in the Road Fairfax Health District because it can contain the vaccine in the required ultra-cold storage unit.

“Within hours of receipt at the Winchester Medical Center, doses of the frozen vaccine were shipped to the system hospitals in Front Royal, Woodstock and Ruley,” the release said.

“”[B]Late afternoon, frontline caregivers were vaccinated. ” “Two West Virginia hospitals in Valley Health will accept healthcare workers and start vaccinations by Thursday.”

According to the release, lung and life-saving physician Dr. B. Frank Lewis was the first to vaccinate in Winchester. He is recognized as the developer of “Frank Score,” an indexing tool used by Valley Health caregivers to determine the likelihood of a patient progressing to a serious coronavirus illness.

Index scores helped Valley Health staff at six hospitals to best care for their patients.

“I’m very proud to be part of this effort,” says Feit. “We are in this until everyone is vaccinated.”

Supporting the vaccination process is a student at Shenandoah University who has responded to a request from Valley Health.

“In the first two weeks of administration, about 20 faculty members will help,” said a university news release.

“Healthcare professionals, pharmacies, and nursing (part-time or full-time) people who are eligible to get the vaccine can help get the vaccine,” he said.

“Healthcare observers monitor side effects immediately after participants receive a shot, and other faculty members perform clerical and data entry tasks.”

The university has said that about 60 people have applied for help so far, and expects additional faculty and staff to seek help in the coming weeks.

“Valley Health and the local health sector have demonstrated cutting-edge leadership and expertise throughout this pandemic,” said Tracy Fitz Simmons, president of Shenandoah, in a release.

“Shenandoa is honored to be the third leg of this community medicine triangle,” she said. “Many of the nurses, doctor assistants and respiratory therapists who treat COVID-19 patients locally are graduates of Shenandoah University, and now that Valley Health is leading a local vaccination effort. , SU is pleased and honored to be invited to support the distribution of this long-awaited vaccine. “

Valley Health will be vaccinated five days a week on campus, about 500 times daily, according to the university’s announcement.

“If necessary, Shenandoah will be able to store the vaccine in the freezer on Winchester’s main campus at the appropriate low temperature,” he said.

Feit reminded the community that it will take months to reach everyone in need of vaccination efforts, and in the meantime, people need to continue to protect their health. ..

“”[W]This pandemic isn’t over yet, so e must continue to make safe decisions, “Feit said in a release. “It is advisable to wear a mask and monitor the distance, especially when celebrating winter vacation. We have not yet left the forest.”

Still, he was optimistic.

“The benefits of vaccination, the benefits of being able to see the beginning of the end,” he said. “It’s the perfect Christmas gift for everyone.”