County health officials conducted a small test run of COVID-19 vaccinations on Sunday ahead of the first phase of a planned roll out.
Five county health care workers — including the county’s Public Health Officer Dr. John Bausher — received vaccinations at Grays Harbor Community Hospital as a test run in preparation for the first day of vaccination program for health care — which began Tuesday.
The trial included five frontline healthcare staff and providers and “was an important test to help GHCH to refine its vaccination plan for phase 1A vaccine participants,” according to a press release from the GHCH.
The county received 975 vaccine doses for the first phase of vaccinations, which targets frontline healthcare workers, first responders and long-term care staff and patients.
“We are excited to begin the process of vaccinating our community for COVID-19. While Phase 1A is frontline healthcare workers and some people in congregate living situations, we will be here for our community until everyone who wants a vaccine has one,” said hospital CEO Tom Jensen. “It has been a long nine months and we are glad to see some light at the end of the tunnel.”
Phase 1A
Criteria for vaccinations for the state Department of Health’s standards for 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 local health officials are uncertain when there will be enough vaccine doses to offer to those in other phases.
For more information, visit ghcares.org/covid19-vaccine-grays-harbor.
Family Medicine Provider Ron Oman, left, received a COVID-19 vaccine from Infection Control/Employee Health Nurse and Director of Surgical Services Rosemary Chapman on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Community Hospital)
