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EASTON — Fifteen College of Maryland Shore Regional Well being (UM SRH) frontline well being care staff from all through the hospital system’s five-county area had been vaccinated right this moment with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. These vaccinated included staff from emergency departments all through the Shore, COVID models and infectious illness departments, in addition to respiratory therapists, nursing employees, environmental providers staff members and safety personnel.
College of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and College of Maryland College of Medication (UM SOM) started vaccinating its frontline well being care staff on Monday. The vaccine is being administered in a tiered system that prioritizes frontline staff members concerned in affected person care.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the primary vaccine granted emergency authorization in the US on December 11, 9 months into the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of greater than 300,000 People. Researchers on the College of Maryland College of Medication (UMSOM) Middle for Vaccine Growth and International Well being had been the primary within the U.S. to check the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, learning its security, efficacy and dosing, and hosted scientific trials. Vaccine specialists from world wide have decided that the brand new vaccine is protected and efficient.
UMMS acquired an preliminary cargo of 975 vaccine doses and has pretty allotted doses throughout its 13-hospital System, with further vaccine supply anticipated later this week. UM SRH intends to manage of its allocations of the COVID-19 vaccine to staff members this week.
Vaccines are being distributed in response to the Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine — developed by the Nationwide Academy of Science, Engineering and Medication (NASEM) — in addition to ACIP’s Moral Rules for Allocating Preliminary Provides of COVID-19 Vaccine. These pointers make sure the vaccine is allotted ethically throughout our populations of well being care professionals, together with college students, college and different important staff, whereas nonetheless in restricted provide.
“For a lot of months, we now have been trying ahead to the day when vaccines could be obtainable to guard our well being care staff and really quickly for the neighborhood at massive,” stated Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and CEO of the College of Maryland Medical System. “As we start vaccinations, and at last start the method of ending this pandemic, I’m grateful to our UMMS and UM College of Medication colleagues who’ve been working tirelessly to take care of our neighborhood and lead within the improvement of progressive therapies and vaccines.”
Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM SRH, stated he’s happy with the way in which the UM SRH staff has tackled the frequently evolving challenges offered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Throughout these previous 9 months, and nicely earlier than that, the dedication, perseverance and ability of our Shore Regional Well being household has at all times been unbelievable to witness,” Kozel stated. “This vaccine is the hope we now have all been ready for — not only for our frontline well being care staff, but additionally our communities. The latest authorization of this protected and efficient vaccine paves the way in which for our System to start vaccinating our frontline employees. We’re proud to be among the many first within the nation to obtain this life-saving vaccine so we are able to proceed to take care of the communities we love and who belief us to offer distinctive care.”
William Huffner, MD, chief medical officer and COVID-19 incident commander for UM SRH, stated he’s happy with the UM SRH staff effort in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and appears ahead to turning the web page on this second in our nation’s historical past as extra individuals are capable of be vaccinated within the coming days and months forward.
“This vaccine is a vital a part of our capability to efficiently fight this extremely infectious illness,” Dr. Huffner stated. “We now have been trying ahead to this present day for months. Defending our communities is what we do. Now, with the vaccine, we are able to guarantee we’re additional defending our frontline groups’ capability to do exactly that.”
The primary UM SRH staff member to obtain the vaccine was Rosa Mateo, MD, an infectious illness specialist with UM SRH. Dr. Mateo oversees the COVID care models at UM Shore Medical Facilities at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton. Dr. Mateo believes within the science behind the vaccine.
“I’ve been combating COVID-19 for greater than 9 months now and I’ve been ready for this present day for the reason that pandemic began,” Dr. Mateo stated. “We lastly have the device we’ve been ready for to complete the struggle towards COVID-19. I’m excited to be the primary staff member to obtain the vaccine. I did this not just for myself, however for my household, my co-workers and all of the sufferers that will want to go to us from our communities. This vaccine will assist us get again to our regular lives, earlier than the pandemic began.”
UM SRH seems to be ahead to with the ability to vaccinate staff throughout its five-county area within the days and weeks forward, as extra vaccine provide turns into obtainable. For the most recent data and updates on UM SRH COVID-19 response efforts, go to umshoreregional.org/coronavirus.
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