Front-line Healthcare Workers Begin Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine at Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital
JERSEY SHORE, PA. – Employees at Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital on Friday began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Within 24 hours of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arriving at the hospital, staff began administering the first of two doses to front-line health care workers at the facility.
Geisinger is providing the vaccine to front-line staff whose daily work involves significant interactions with COVID-19 patients and other staff in critical departments. This vaccination plan is in alignment with Pennsylvania Department of Health and federal guidelines for providing the vaccine in this initial phase.
The first vaccinations occurred at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center on Wednesday.
Geisinger received about 3,000 doses across the system in the initial shipment. With about 14,000 front-line workers, Geisinger will be administering the vaccine as quickly as supplies allow to the eligible employees. The system is leveraging its transportation technology, communications, and scheduling capabilities to efficiently administer the vaccine.
Geisinger was one of the first health care systems in the Commonwealth to receive the vaccine, with Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre and Geisinger Lewistown Hospital receiving and administering it earlier this week.
Dr. Jaewon Ryu, Geisinger President and CEO, during his Friday press briefing, said continuing to follow the recommended preventive measures of masking, physical distancing and handwashing remains critical. He said while front-line hospital staff are receiving the vaccine, it will likely be well into 2021 before enough people are vaccinated to allow for loosening these recommendations. Front-line health care workers who receive the vaccine will continue to wear masks and proper personal protective equipment.
