SVHC’s Role in Regional Vaccine Deployment

We are grateful to report that the FDA-approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center sometime today and that, tomorrow, the first doses will be given to several physicians and nurses who work directly with COVID-19 patients. We have been planning and preparing for the vaccines’ arrival for many weeks, including purchasing an ultralow freezer to properly store the vaccine. We are ready to participate in Vermont’s phased plan to vaccinate our healthcare workforce and our region.

We know that many in our community are as eager to receive the vaccine as we are to administer it. Please note that initial quantities will be limited. They will go first to healthcare professionals who work directly with COVID-19 patients, to first responders, and to adults living in long-term care settings. We will be working hard to get all of the doses administered as soon as they arrive. 

Our plans include vaccinating the public, starting with those who have conditions that put them at greatest risk of developing a serious case of COVID-19, through a drive-through clinic and, eventually, primary care practices. As we progress through the phased rollout, we will update our website, svhealthcare.org, regularly. There you will learn what phase we are in, who will receive the vaccine next, and answers to frequently asked questions.

We will be best protected when almost everyone in our region—at least 75 percent of adults—are vaccinated. Until then, we need everyone—whether they have been vaccinated or not—to continue precautions against COVID-19. Please show your support for our healthcare workers, schools, businesses, neighbors, and friends by traveling for essential reasons only, visiting with those outside your household virtually, wearing a mask while in public, washing your hands frequently, and staying home when you are sick. We are all eager to return to normal, but we need to wait for our statewide health leaders to give us the “all clear” message. They predict that this could happen as early as late summer or fall. 

Throughout every phase of the pandemic, we have received extraordinary community support. Your generosity, kind messages, and sacrifice have seen us through. Thank you. As we welcome the arrival of the vaccine, we are counting on that spirit of partnership to navigate this final leg of the COVID-19 pandemic. While quantities are limited, we are working according to the state’s recommendations to get the vaccine to everyone as quickly as possible. If we continue to work together, it won’t be too long before we will be together to celebrate a renewed strength and a bright future for our region.

Sincerely,