South Georgia Medical Center will begin to vaccinate Georgians this week at the new COVID-19 vaccination drive thru. This comes after Georgia expanded its eligibility to include citizens 65 and older, area law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders. Vaccinations will be by appointment only and can be scheduled at sgmc.org. 

SGMC’s vaccination site allows citizens to schedule an appointment and utilize a drive thru to receive the vaccine. Recipients will then be monitored for 15 minutes after the vaccination is administered. 

“SGMC is excited to be able to offer the region another option to receive their COVID-19 vaccination. Because vaccines are limited, citizens are encouraged to utilize SGMC’s online scheduling tool. This provides users the opportunity to learn more about the vaccine process and schedule their appointment,” says Scarlett Rivera, Director of Infection Prevention. 

The site is located at the SGMC Main Campus Surgery Center parking lot at 2417 North Patterson. The vaccination team expects to vaccinate approximately 150 people per day beginning Wednesday, January 13, 2021. 

For more information visit sgmc.org.

Residents across northeast Georgia who are 65 or older can now schedule an appointment to receive a COVID vaccine at one of several events hosted by Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). Seven COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic events have been planned through the end of January, along with follow-up events at which participants will receive their second dose.

            “It’s exciting to finally take this next step in the fight against the pandemic,” said Sakib Maya, MD, medical director of Urgent Care. “I can’t wait to start seeing patients receive their vaccines on Monday morning! We know how anxious they are and we’re proud to offer this service for our community.”

            Appointments are required and walk-ins will not be accepted. The event dates and locations are:

            “We are offering as many appointments as possible with the vaccine supply and staffing resources we have available,” said Bobby Norris, vice president of operations for Northeast Georgia Physicians Group. “We will add more appointments – at more locations – as soon as we can. In the meantime, we appreciate everyone’s patience.”

Schedule your vaccine appointment at nghs.com/vaccine-registration.

###

St. Mary’s is receiving numerous questions about COVID-19 vaccinations. We want to answer those questions as best we can in this fast-changing situation. The following reflects the best information we have at this moment.

First, most hospitals in Georgia – including all three hospitals in our system – are experiencing the highest number of COVID patients we have seen since the pandemic started. These COVID patients are in addition to our normal patient volumes, which are typically at their peak in the winter months. At the same time, more staff than ever before are out sick due to community exposure. Our team has been outstanding in working through this situation, but it is very challenging, and they are tired. We continue our commitment to meet the health care needs of our community and we will continue to prioritize our resources to care for patients who are ill from COVID and other diseases. We need the community to continue taking actions that prevent the spread of the disease. 

The vaccines hold tremendous promise to be the light at the end of the tunnel, and we are encouraged that so many people want to be vaccinated.  We share their confidence that the vaccines that have been granted FDA emergency use approval are safe and effective. We urge everyone to get vaccinated when your priority level opens up.

Briefly, here are key points we want to share with our communities.

• Our hospitals have received only limited supplies of vaccine. Currently, per state guidance, we are prioritizing our colleagues and medical staff members. It is essential that our frontline staff receive protection as soon as possible so that we can continue meeting the needs of our patients and community.
• The state has directed a limited expansion. Per the Governor’s guidance, we are also ramping up our vaccination efforts to make vaccine available to designated essential workers outside of the hospital setting: EMS personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and first responders. We will be reaching out to these groups in the next few days.
• Most people will be vaccinated through community partners. All of us in healthcare are pitching in to fight the pandemic. As vaccine becomes more widely available, partner organizations such as pharmacies and clinics will play a larger role. These are the locations where most people will be vaccinated in the weeks ahead.
• The Health District can help if you meet current criteria. If you are 65 or over, you now meet the Georgia Department of Public Health’s criteria for vaccination. Please contact your local Health District for information on how to get vaccinated.
  • Athens area, including Greene County: https://publichealthathens.com/wp/
  • District 2, including Franklin, Hart and Stephens counties: http://phdistrict2.org/
  • District 5-2, including Putnam County: https://northcentralhealthdistrict.org/coronavirus/
• Our hospitals are open and providing care. We understand the news about the pandemic around the state and nationally may be alarming. Please be assured that while we are stressed by the current situation, St. Mary’s hospitals are open and working to provide care for our community. You may encounter a longer wait in our Emergency Departments, but we will triage you and provide appropriate care as soon as possible. Please do not delay seeking care.
• Keep your guard up. It will take time for the vaccine rollout to impact the pandemic. Especially with COVID numbers so high, we need everyone to continue wearing a mask in public, maintaining 6 feet or more of physical distance from people who don’t live in your household, avoiding large gatherings, washing your hands, and staying home if sick except to seek medical care.

Southeast Georgia Health System has announced it will begin providing COVID-19 vaccines to individuals age 65 and over, as well as police officers, firefighters and other first responders, on Monday, Jan. 11, based on guidelines established by Governor Kemp on Dec. 30, 2020.

Vaccines are only available by appointment. Due to the current limited vaccine supply, prioritization will be given to first responders and high risk individuals. Those receiving the vaccine must be available for a second dose 21 or 28 days later, depending on the type of vaccine received. The vaccine is produced by private manufacturers and supplies are dependent on those manufacturers.

“The vaccine gives us the opportunity to stop the spread, so of course we want as many people as possible to get the vaccine,” says Michael D. Scherneck, president and CEO. “Our Health System team members have been given the opportunity to be vaccinated and now, based on the governor’s order, we are making plans to offer the vaccine to as many patients and first responders as possible given the number of vaccines available. We recognize that there are many people in our community who wish to receive the vaccine and, as more supplies become available, we will work diligently to ensure that everyone who desires a vaccine will receive one.”

Scherneck added, “We are exploring how we might partner with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Coastal Health District to increase access to the vaccine. As our supplies increase, we will offer an expanded vaccine schedule to the community, including weekends. We want to remind everyone, including those who receive the vaccine, that it’s extremely important to continue to wear a mask, social distance and avoid large gatherings for the health and safety of all of us.”

The Health System is currently contacting high risk individuals age 65 and older to schedule vaccine appointments—individuals do not need to contact the hospital or physician’s office. Scheduled individuals will be required to show identification. Due to the structured vaccine process, the Health System is not able to accommodate walk-ins and vaccines are not available at physician offices. A second dose will be provided 21 to 28 days later, based on the type of vaccine received.

Updated vaccine information will be available on the Health System’s website at sghs.org/covid-19.

About Southeast Georgia Health System
Southeast Georgia Health System is a not-for-profit health system comprised of two acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities, two comprehensive Cancer Care Centers and multiple specialty care centers, including orthopaedic and spine care, joint replacement, breast care, maternity, outpatient rehabilitation, sleep management and wound care. The Brunswick Campus Cancer Care Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and offers the only CyberKnife^® M6 with MLC technology in Georgia. Additionally, the Southeast Georgia Physician Associates medical group includes more than 140 providers working in 20 different medical specialties at more than 50 locations. The Health System is part of Coastal Community Health, a regional affiliation between Baptist Health and Southeast Georgia Health System forming a highly integrated hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. For more information, visit sghs.org.

###

Jesup – An early Christmas present arrived this year for healthcare workers at Wayne Memorial –   the first installment of Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine. Among the first in the group to receive the vaccine was Dr. Bill Headley. He shares he has experienced no real side effects, lest a sore arm for a couple of days. “I encourage folks to get the vaccine, so that we can beat this virus quickly.” Headley will return 28 days from the shot date for his second dose of the vaccine. He added it was the “best early Christmas gift EVER!!”

Hospital Employee Beth Gorse also received the first of the two-part vaccine. She experienced soreness in her arm the next day, similar to a flu shot. She shared, “I have a sense of relief knowing that I’ve started this vaccine process.”

Fellow employee Janet Keith joins her coworkers in their excitement on receiving the vaccine. “All is well. Feeling appreciative! I pray it is available to everyone who wants the vaccine soon. I am more afraid of getting Covid-19 than I am of taking this new vaccine. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a Covid-free 2021 for all. Roll your sleeves up…and get ready!” Keith also shared she has experienced no side effects.

Angie Jones, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer for the hospital, said, “We are excited to have the vaccine available for our healthcare providers and first responders.  The vaccine gives us all hope in a better year coming. We have had no serious reactions or issues reported in anyone who has received the vaccine to date.”    

Wayne Memorial Hospital, whose mission is to provide high quality health care services to all patients, built a state-of-the-art facility in 2007. It is the third largest employer in Wayne County with 500 employees, 84 beds and is a three-time winner of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year Award. 

####

Southeast Georgia Health System’s Camden Campus was recently named one of the 2020 Top Hospitals in the state by Georgia Trend. This leading business and lifestyle magazine featured the hospital rankings in the December 2020 issue; the Camden Campus ranked 14^th in the small hospital category (fewer than 100 patient beds).

“It’s an honor to be recognized as one of Georgia Trend’s Top Hospitals,” says Glenn Gann, R.N., MSN, vice president and administrator, Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus. “We strive to meet the health care needs of the people we serve and are committed to bringing leading-edge technology to our community. This ranking affirms the hard work and commitment of our team members, especially after the challenging year we’ve all faced due to COVID-19.”

Located in St. Marys, the Camden Campus is a 40-bed hospital with extensive quality services in a friendly, warm setting. Recent additions to the Camden Campus include a new Wound Care Center and ROSA® Knee robotic surgery technology for knee replacements.

The Camden Campus medical staff includes over 130 community and employed physicians representing many major medical specialties. In addition to an emergency room with private rooms and HAZMAT decontamination units, services include bariatrics, breast care with 3D mammography, cancer care with radiation and medical oncology, cardiopulmonary, gastroenterology and endoscopy, intensive care, labor and delivery, orthopaedic surgery and joint replacement, outpatient rehabilitation (physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy), radiology, sleep management and surgical services.

For the 2020 Top Hospitals list, which includes hospitals that provide a range of services, Georgia Trend evaluated each hospital in Georgia that participates in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Value Based Purchasing program. A total performance score based on information that included clinical process, patient experience, outcome and efficiency (CMS data downloaded on August 19, 2020) was used to rank hospitals of similar size and mission.

About Southeast Georgia Health System
Southeast Georgia Health System is a not-for-profit health system comprised of two acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities, two comprehensive Cancer Care Centers and multiple specialty care centers, including orthopaedic and spine care, joint replacement, breast care, maternity, outpatient rehabilitation, sleep management and wound care. The Brunswick Campus Cancer Care Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and offers the only CyberKnife^® M6 with MLC technology in Georgia. Additionally, the Southeast Georgia Physician Associates medical group includes more than 140 providers working in 20 different medical specialties at more than 50 locations. The Health System is part of Coastal Community Health, a regional affiliation between Baptist Health and Southeast Georgia Health System forming a highly integrated hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. In 2020, the Brunswick Campus was rated High Performing in COPD and Heart Failure by the U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit sghs.org.

# # #

As part of the nationwide effort to end the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital received a partial shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday and began administering it to front-line colleagues and providers this morning. Among those working to administer the shots was hospital President Tanya Adcock, a registered nurse.

“We are excited about the safety and effectiveness of this first vaccine and others that are going through the FDA review and approval process,” Adcock said. “These vaccines hold the promise to end the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives.”

Among the first colleagues and providers to receive the vaccine at Good Sam were Dr. Barry Baker, Emergency Department; Dr. Craig Colby, Chief of Medicine; Dr. Kristina Collins, Chief of Emergency Medicine; Tina Childree, RN, Emergency Department Manager, Dr. Dave Ringer, Medical Staff President, and Jacki Gruszynski, speech-language pathologist.

In these initial stages, while vaccine supply is very limited, St. Mary’s Health Care System is following state guidelines for determining which colleagues receive the vaccine first. At the top of the priority list are colleagues who provide face-to-face care to large numbers of patients with COVID, including physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in areas such as the Emergency Department and Nursing Unit. Next priority will be patient-facing staff who provide care to large numbers of patients not known or suspected to have COVID.

“It’s something of a miracle that science has delivered a safe and effective vaccine in just a year from the eruption of a deadly new virus,” said Dr. Jason Smith, St. Mary’s Chief Medical Officer. “The key was the work done on messenger RNA vaccines over the past two decades, driven by the need to fight other novel viruses such as MERS and SARS. That research led to the development of this new generation of vaccines, which use mRNA to teach the body’s immune system how to recognize and fight the virus without having to use any of the virus itself in the vaccine.”

The first doses delivered to St. Mary’s were manufactured by Pfizer. St. Mary’s has also requested hundreds of doses of a vaccine developed by the Moderna pharmaceutical company, which was approved by the FDA Friday for emergency use and does not require ultra-cold storage. In all, St. Mary’s has asked the State of Georgia to provide enough vaccine to vaccinate all colleagues, medical group providers, and credentialed physicians.

Adcock noted that vaccinating enough of the population to stop the spread of COVID-19 will take time.

“With the start of vaccination, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re not out of the tunnel yet,” she said. “With the holidays starting and COVID rates continuing to rise in our state and region, it’s more important than ever for the whole community to redouble their efforts to fight this virus.”

Adcock said it will be necessary to stay vigilant for several months by continuing to wear a mask in public, keeping good social distance, and avoiding large gatherings. Other measures, such as washing hands often, sanitizing surfaces, and staying home if feeling sick, are effective at fighting all kinds of viral illnesses, including the flu, and should become a regular part of daily living.

“We know all these steps can slow or even stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed,” she said. “We need to mount one last push to keep each other safe while our nation and world vaccinate billions of people, and then we can put this pandemic behind us.”

#   #   #

On the morning of Dec. 22, the two nondescript delivery trucks backed up to the docks of Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton and Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica, offloading the first doses of the vaccine that — along with continued public health measures — will give the region a chance to turn around the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The hospitals received almost 2,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine — enough to inoculate the frontline healthcare workers and medical staff who have battled the pandemic since the first cases appeared in March.  

The health system began to administer the vaccines Tuesday afternoon.  

“I think it’s important for people to remember — even if they’re low-risk — that we’re doing this for the at-risk people,” said Richard Warren, MD, a board-certified emergency medicine physician who was among the first to receive the vaccine. “The truth is, in the job we do and the place where we work, we’re natural spreaders. For us to protect our community, we have to be leaders.” 

Dr. Warren said the shot didn’t hurt and had no concern about the safety of the vaccine. 

“I had no concern about getting the shot,” he said. “I felt very comfortable.” 

Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call for administering the vaccine first to frontline healthcare workers — those at greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19 — and residents of long-term care facilities who are at the greatest risk of severe illness from the virus.  

Doses of the vaccine are allocated by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DPH), which decides when — and how much — of the vaccine will be distributed. 

The vaccine is manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and has strict cold-storage requirements. The health system has ordered additional freezers to safely keep the vaccine. To achieve better than 90% efficacy, the vaccine must be administered in two doses, 21 days apart. 

The health system is strongly encouraging staff to take advantage of the vaccine for their safety and the safety of their loved ones.  

Ultimately, Tanner hopes to roll out vaccination region-wide. 

“I feel so strongly about getting protected and getting back to some sense of normalcy for us,” said Laura Larson, MD, a board-certified infectious disease specialist, medical director of infection prevention and chair of the Carroll County Board of Health. “This has been a hard, hard year, and I never want to go through anything like this again. I want everyone to know that I felt safe about getting it, and the safety data is unreal. We haven’t had a vaccine that had 95% efficacy in a long time. We’re fortunate that we have this in our lifetime.” 

While mild side effects have been reported with the vaccine — typically as a result of the body’s immune response, indicating the vaccine is working — severe side effects from the vaccine have been very rare.  

As the vaccine became available, frontline healthcare workers lined the halls at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton to get the first dose.  

“We’re grateful that we can offer this as a means to keep our frontline staff safe,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner. “I’m looking forward to being able to offer this across our region, so everyone has the opportunity to be protected from this world-changing virus.” 

More information on Tanner’s vaccine plan can be found at tanner.org/vaccine.  

###

As part of the nationwide effort to end the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Mary’s received a partial shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday and began administering it to front-line colleagues and providers. Among those working to administer the shots was St. Mary’s President and CEO Montez Carter, a licensed pharmacist.

“We are excited about the safety and effectiveness of this first vaccine and others that are going through the FDA review and approval process,” Carter said. “These vaccines hold the promise to end the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives.”

Among the first of more than 50 colleagues and providers to receive the vaccine at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens were Elizabeth Jean-Noel, a nurse practitioner with Infectious Disease Specialists of Athens; Margarita Osorito, Emergency Department nurse; Kelly Porter, respiratory therapist; Dr. Nehal Bhatt,  pulmonologist and critical care physician; Dr. Clay Chappell, interventional cardiologist; Barbara Kelley, nurse and director of St. Mary’s Intensive Care Unit, Dr. David Gaines, family practitioner, and Dr. Adam Traill, hospitalist.

At St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, where nearly 20 were vaccinated, the first vaccine recipients included Dr. Kenneth Carroll, OB/GYN; Paula Carroll, certified nurse anesthetist; Ruth Tellano Daniel, Emergency Department nurse practitioner; Diana Elliott, nuclear medicine tech; Brenda Powell, nurse and manager of the Mother/Baby Unit; Dr. Richard White, Chief of Staff, and Dr. Morgan Wood, Emergency Department medical director.

Because of the logistics of properly shipping and handling the Pfizer vaccine, which requires ultra-cold storage – 76 degrees below zero or colder – St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro is planning to hold its first colleague vaccine clinic on Tuesday.

In these initial stages, while vaccine supply is very limited, St. Mary’s is following state guidelines for determining which colleagues receive the vaccine first. At the top of the priority list are colleagues who provide face-to-face care to large numbers of patients with COVID, including physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and staff in units such as the Emergency Department and ICU. Next priority will be patient-facing staff who provide care to large numbers of patients not known or suspected to have COVID.

“It’s something of a miracle that science has delivered a safe and effective vaccine in just a year from the eruption of a deadly new virus,” said Dr. Jason Smith, St. Mary’s Chief Medical Officer. “The key was the work done on messenger RNA vaccines over the past two decades, driven by the need to fight other novel viruses such as MERS and SARS. That research led to the development of this new generation of vaccines, which use mRNA to teach the body’s immune system how to recognize and fight the virus without having to use any of the virus itself in the vaccine.”

The first doses delivered to St. Mary’s were manufactured by Pfizer. St. Mary’s has also requested hundreds of doses of a vaccine developed by the Moderna pharmaceutical company, which was approved by the FDA Friday for emergency use and does not require ultra-cold storage. In all, St. Mary’s has asked the State of Georgia to provide enough vaccine to vaccinate all colleagues, medical group providers, and credentialed physicians. In addition, St. Mary’s is working with Farmer’s Drugs of Oconee County to provide vaccinations to residents of Highland Hills Village, a retirement community that provides memory care, assisted living, and independent living to senior adults.

Carter noted that vaccinating enough of the population to stop the spread of COVID-19 will take time.

“With the start of vaccination, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re not out of the tunnel yet,” he said. “With the holidays starting and COVID rates continuing to rise in our state and region, it’s more important than ever for the whole community to redouble their efforts to fight this virus.”

Carter said it will be necessary to stay vigilant for several months by continuing to wear a mask in public, keeping good social distance, and avoiding large gatherings. Other measures, such as washing hands often, sanitizing surfaces, and staying home if feeling sick, are effective at fighting all kinds of viral illnesses, including the flu, and should become a regular part of daily living.

“We know all these steps can slow or even stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed,” he said. “We need to mount one last push to keep each other safe while our nation and world vaccinate billions of people, and then we can put this pandemic behind us.”

#   #   #

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is now offering nearly 5,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to frontline staff and physicians.

            “It feels like Christmas came early,” says Carol Burrell, NGHS president and CEO. “It’s been a long eight months for our organization and our community, as we continue to see record numbers of COVID patients. We still have a long journey ahead of us, but simply having a vaccine in our hands is a tremendous and positive step forward.”

The first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine arrived at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville Thursday morning, where it is being stored in specially ordered freezers to maintain the proper storage temperature. Doses are being offered to employees in a prioritized order based on risk, with more vaccinations continuing at NGMC Gainesville and NGMC Braselton. Future vaccine shipments are expected to begin on a regular basis soon, though no official timeline or cadence has been set.

“We hope other COVID-19 vaccines developed by different companies and research groups will receive federal approval soon, which would allow us to vaccinate our workforce and people in our community, faster than planned,” says Supriya Mannepalli, MD, NGMC’s medical director of Infectious Disease Medicine. “I’m amazed at how quickly our team has worked through detailed logistics to make this possible – just like they have with so many other challenges during the pandemic.”

The first employees vaccinated Thursday night include:

• Rachel Brunner, RN – Critical Care Nurse at NGMC Gainesville and Braselton
• Andy Cason, RRT – Respiratory Therapist at NGMC Gainesville
• Tamika Johnson, RN – Charge Nurse in the Mobile Medical Unit at NGMC Gainesville
• Elizabeth Larkins, MSN, RN – Director of Critical Care at NGMC Gainesville
• April McDonald, MD – Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine Physician with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group, practicing at NGMC Gainesville and Braselton
• Terry Phillips – Environmental Services Technician at NGMC Gainesville
• Seth Scott, RN – Nurse in the Emergency Department at NGMC Gainesville

Important information about COVID-19 vaccines, including details about when they may be available to the general public, answers to frequently asked questions and more, is available at nghs.com/covid-vaccine.

“It’s important to remember that vaccination isn’t a magic bullet that will end the pandemic immediately,” says Dr. Mannepalli. “People need to continue following the 3Ws – wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance – even after getting the vaccine, at least until herd immunity is achieved.”

###