Providence begins inoculating front-line workers in the highest-risk category with Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine
Providence, one of the largest health systems in the country, today announced that it began administrating the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that the FDA approved for emergency use to the highest-risk front-line caregivers.
The initial vaccine supply is very limited and it will be rolled out in phases per the CDC. The first doses will be for high-risk caregivers, residents and patients in long-term care facilities. Providence carefully assessed the risks within its workforce to equitably distribute the initial doses to those at highest risk of exposure, based on role and work locations.
Providence launched an internal Validate and Verify tool to ensure the caregiver records were up to date. The tool asked over 120,000 caregivers to verify their information, assess their own risk and indicate their willingness to get the vaccine. It also confirmed how caregivers would like to receive communication about the vaccine from Providence.
“This is a major scientific milestone that will help us to curb the spread of a disease that has brought the world to a standstill. We are working to get the vaccine to the frontlines as quickly as we can, starting with our highest risk caregivers. Thank you to everyone at Providence who is helping us mobilize this massive vaccination effort,” said Rod Hochman, M.D., president and CEO of Providence.
Providence continues to provide information to caregivers about the vaccines side effects, its safety and efficacy, and encourages each caregiver to review the data to make an informed decision. Providence is monitoring the Moderna vaccine as it goes through the FDA process.
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