Submitted by Grays Harbor Community Hospital
Grays Harbor Community Hospital began administration of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to area first responders who fall under the WA Department of Health’s Phase 1A standard on Monday December 28, 2020.
Our vaccination team, led by Chief Nursing Officer, Melanie Brandt, is working with 1st responders from Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Montesano, Ocean Shores, Cosmopolis, Ride to Wellness, South Beach, Lake Quinault, Fire Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, & 10, and frontline healthcare professionals from Roger Saux Health Center. Vaccination for these vital organizations is done via a drive-up service. After vaccine administration they are directed to a parking area where they are monitored by highly trained nurses for any adverse reactions.
We continue to vaccinate frontline healthcare professionals and first responders who qualify for group 1A. No explicit guidance has been given as to who may be in the next phase or at what point it might begin. This is a massive undertaking with limited resources, however GHCH is dedicated to heal, comfort, and serve our community with compassion. This means we will continue putting in the extra effort until all who qualify for phase 1A and want a vaccine, have one.
PHASE 1A
Healthcare Personnel – including first responders – who have direct patient contact (within 6 feet) and are unable to telework including:
- Personnel who provide services to patients or patients’ family members
- Personnel who handle infectious materials
- Can include personnel who work in inpatient or outpatient settings
- Personnel without known infection in prior 90 days
- Workers in sites where direct patient care is being delivered to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, including sites where suspected patients are directed for COVID testing and care
- Example setting: hospital sites managing suspected/confirmed COVID patients; emergency departments; urgent care; clinics (walk-in, respiratory); home; isolation and quarantine facility
- Examples types of workers: health care workers; technicians; security; environmental, janitorial, and facility staff; nonremote translators; counselors; home health aides, caregivers, and companions
- Workers performing high-risk exposure procedures with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients
- Example procedures: endotracheal or cough inducing intubation; cough induction or cough inducing procedure (e.g., nasogastric tube); bronchoscopy; suctioning; turning the patient to the prone position; disconnecting the patient from a ventilator; invasive dental procedures and exams; autopsies; respiratory specimen collection; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; upper endoscopy; laparoscopic surgery; placement of chest tubes for pneumothorax
- Workers (including pharmacists and occupational health staff) administering vaccines to Phase 1a, 1b, and 1c populations
Allocations of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be determined by the state, so at this time we are uncertain when we will have enough vaccine doses to offer to those in other phases. However, we will continue to communicate information as quickly as we can be safely confirmed.
More information about COVID vaccination will be available on our website.
Detailed Information about Phase 1a can be found here.
