Frontline doctor rebellion over the deployment of “ridiculous” vaccines at Stanford Medical Center

“The Stanford EM Residency Program was disappointed in the vaccine allocation process. Algorithms designed to ensure fair distribution of the first round of vaccines can properly identify high-risk healthcare professionals. Couldn’t. Residents were included in the first pool for consideration, but the algorithm disappointed them and included too few in the first round, “said Stanford University School of Emergency Medicine clinical associate. The professor, Dr. Salamarie Kurzaniak, told Daily Beast.

“The leadership of our department has worked tirelessly to correct this mistake. Our program is at the forefront of giving great thanks to our residents and caring for their patients. I am deeply grateful for their work, “added Krzyzaniak.

The stunning protest elicited a swift response from Stanford leaders, including Stanford Healthcare CEO David Entwhistle. He reportedly told the crowd as follows: We know it is wrong. “

To statement To The Daily Beast, A medical center official said, “We are fully responsible for any mistakes in implementing the vaccine distribution plan,” promising that new solutions are being considered.

At least 22,160 people died and another 1.7 million were COVID-19 positive. In California, This is experiencing a wave of brutal incidents that forced state authorities to enforce hard restrictions. On Thursday, the state saw 52,000 new cases —More infectious diseases than Germany or India as a whole— And I was fighting a positive rate of almost 12 percent.

The dissatisfaction of people who “cut” the vaccine line is growing across the country.Mount Sinai Hospital in New York Faced criticism this week COVID-19 For vaccination of marketing employees before hospital workers who interact directly with patients.

And before Friday’s protest, Stanford residents and fellows wrote to university leaders in response to the distribution plan, stating that the initial allocation of more than 5,000 Pfizer vaccines obtained was not sufficient.

Dr. Earth Hasasuri, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Sanford Medical Center, Tweeted in response to Stanford’s planResidents and fellows are basically vaccinated, despite working more than 80 hours a week in a hospital treating COVID-19 patients, except that they forgot about us at the forefront. It wasn’t included in the first round. ”

In a letter to university leaders, employees stated that there was “no clear plan yet” to vaccinate residents and fellows, and the order did not match exposure levels. “At this point, make it clear that, in light of the sacrifices and promises we have made, residents are hurt, disappointed, frustrated, angry, and deeply distrustful of hospital operations. Is important. We, “they wrote.

Stanford University officials sent several emails this week apologizing for the distribution failure. According to Politico, I received two emails from a tipster. “It’s clear that there were some unintended failures,” said the first person from Stanford University’s Chief Medical Officer, Niraj Sehgal, who claimed that Sehgal was unintentional. Awareness of lack of priority “was lamented.

Another email from Stanford University officials later in the week reminded recipients that frontline workers were denied vaccination in this round, but an additional 15,000 doses will arrive next week. .. “Currently, there is lively conversation to ensure that trainees are represented in an important way at all levels in the future,” said the email.

“The inequality in vaccine distribution can be seen at the micro level at Stanford University today. I’m worried about the situation we’re seeing. [Stanford] Is a precursor to population-level inequality in vaccine distribution in poorly serviced communities, “said Dr. Christine Santiago, resident of the Stanford University Internal Medicine Program. Tweet Friday.