The Shadow
RICHMOND — In three weeks’ time, more than 102,900 doses of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been administered by Virginia hospitals since the first vaccine shipments arrived in the state.
That figure reflects doses administered by hospitals as of Tuesday, Jan. 5. In keeping with its
The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association will provide updated totals of vaccinations administered by hospitals on a weekly basis as a new feature on the existing Virginia Hospital COVID-19 Dashboard starting next week.
“Hospitals across the commonwealth are working to vaccinate people in the initial priority population in a safe, effective, and expeditious manner and have made strong progress on that ongoing work,” said Carilion Clinic Chief Operating Officer Steven C. Arner, the chairman of VHHA’s board of directors.
“Moving ahead, we will share vaccination data with the public to help track the continuing progress of this critically important public health effort,” he said.
Initial shipments of Pfizer vaccine doses arrived in Virginia during the week of Dec. 14 — some of the first doses were administered within a day of arrival.
Since then, more than 269,000 doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine have been shipped to 67 Virginia hospitals. The Pfizer vaccine is administered in two doses 21 days apart, while the Moderna vaccine is administered in two doses 28 days apart.
On Dec. 31, Virginia hospitals received 72,150 second doses of the Pfizer vaccine and have begun administering them.
Last month, hospitals in Virginia began administering vaccine doses to frontline clinicians at the greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19 before moving to vaccinate other eligible health care professionals in accordance with guidelines established by the Virginia Department of Health and VHHA.
Meanwhile, the Pharmacy Partnership involving the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), VDH, and large commercial pharmacies (CVS and Walgreens), is overseeing vaccinations for staff and residents at long-term care facilities.
Vaccinations for other health care professionals are to be facilitated by VDH and local health districts, with support from Virginia hospitals. Subsequent vaccination priority populations include essential workers such as police officers, firefighters, educators and childcare workers, grocery store and food processing plant employees, as well as older adults such as those in high-risk and vulnerable populations, and construction, utility, transportation, and food service workers.
“Administering nearly 103,000 vaccine doses during the greatest surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations
Virginia has experienced to date is a testament to the unparalleled dedication of Virginia’s health care providers and their team members,” said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton.
“It is important to understand that in addition to responding to the current COVID-19 surge, Virginia hospitals are also leading the way on a complex vaccination process that involves many moving pieces, each of which require logistical coordination involving shipment and delivery under very specific temperature-controlled protocols, on-site storage in ultra-cold conditions, redistribution from delivery recipient sites to other health care facilities, and the scheduling of vaccination clinics and coordinating that with staff shifts as well as storage and thawing protocols. Even as Virginia hospitals work through this process, they are committed to keeping the public informed about the progress of this work,” Connaughton said.
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