FREEHOLD ― More than 80 front line health care workers of CentraState received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and scheduled each to receive the second, required dose within the manufacturer’s recommended time frame.
CentraState Health System President and CEO John T. Gribbin said “this is the first step in our ability to get back to normal, and an amazing day for our organization and the entire community we serve. We are so thankful that our employees, who cared for patients with COVID-19 in the last 10 months, are finally on their way to having protection against the virus.”
Employees of CentraState were earmarked for 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Health care employees are at the highest risk for contracting the virus, including physicians, nurses, respiratoEry therapists and staff in the ICU, Emergency Department and other units.
The Centers for Disease Control and the New Jersey Department of Health have each provided guidelines on vaccine prioritization. Those who do not have close patient care will receive their vaccines at a later date as they become available.
Hazen Yu, the nurse manager of the hospital unit who treated most of the coronavirus patients was among the first employees to receive the vaccine. “I am so relieved that we are finally able to get vaccinated to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and the patients we care for,” Yu said.
CentraState’s team has been working to prepare for receipt and delivery of the vaccines, including the purchase of a special refrigerator to house them at -80 degrees Celsius until they are ready for use. Processes were developed for everything from scheduling employees for the vaccine, to transport from the pharmacy to the point of care.
CentraState Chief Operating Officer Tom Scott said, “I’m very proud of the work we have done in preparation for this historic event. This challenge has tested the skills and tenacity of every employee, and I can say with confidence that we more than passed the test.”
He noted that details on the availability of the vaccine to the public will be forthcoming. CentraState Healthcare System is a fully accredited, not-for-profit, community-based health system that provides comprehensive health services in the central New Jersey region.
