Monroe County Executive Adam Bello has announced arrival of the first shipment of the anti-coronavirus vaccine in the community. In coming days, he says it will be distributed according to a plan devised for fairness, going first to health care workers and in coming days to nursing home residents who are the most vulnerable to the disease.
Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza called it “the day we turn the corner” on COVID-19. He says we need over 70 percent of the community vaccinated to create “herd immunity” and put an end to the pandemic locally. He says we do that by not reinventing the wheel, but by following the data and the evidence. Mendoza says to remember that the pandemic hits communities of color more aggressively, and that will be kept in mind as the vaccine is distributed.
Dr. Michael Apostolakas of UR Medicine (in photo) said the initial shipment of the Pfizer vaccine has already arrived at Strong, and ten employees have already been vaccinated. He said for security reasons they’re not saying how much vaccine they have or where it’s stored. Carlos Rosa in patient transport at Strong Memorial Hospital was first to get the shot at URMC. Another group of employees is being vaccinated Tuesday, and a vaccination clinic for hospital employees will open on Wednesday. Apostolakas says they expect to get more shipments of Pfizer and of the newer Moderna vaccine in a few weeks.
Dr. Robert Mayo of Rochester Health says they have also received their shipment of vaccine and are administering it to employees beginning Tuesday. They will ramp up to hundreds of employees by the end of the week.
The doctors say they’re following guidelines set by the state and advised by the Centers for Disease Control. Emergency room and ICU workers are being vaccinated first, followed by all employees who come in contact with COVID patients.
Nursing homes are being handled by pharmacies contracted by the State Health Department, which will supply their vaccine supplies and staff to administer it to patients in the coming days and weeks.
Dr. Mayo says they’ve worked out plans to begin vaccinating patients of their hospitals once staff is covered, and eventually working that out into the community. Dr. Apostolakas says that will be a far more complex job but they’re up for the challenge.