San Juan Regional Health

San Juan Regional Medical Center has received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and has begun immediate distribution for our caregivers. Our Incident Command team, along with key staff in our Pharmacy and Nursing Administration, has spent weeks behind the scenes preparing for the vaccine’s arrival in order to ensure safe and effective storage and deployment.

“I am very humbled by the speed and efficiency that has brought this vaccine to us,” said Clinical Scholar and Nursing Education Manager Trish Maule. “This is something we desperately need and I am thankful that our hospital has the infrastructure to be able to offer the vaccine to our caregivers this early.”

“Lots of planning went into making sure we received this vaccine. I am thankful for our staff and the collaboration we have with the healthcare providers at the hospital,” added Pharmacy Manager Mark Winters.

We have received the first of two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine must be stored at -70° C. Ultra-cold freezers are on site to ensure that all of our vaccine allotment is properly stored until it can be administered. Our plan is to administer the vaccine to our caregivers through a tiered approach. The second dose will be administered three weeks after the first dose.

“Our healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19 having been working tirelelssly since March to provde care to patients hospitalized with COVID-19.  But doing so requires all the tools we have available. We are strongly encouraging our caregivers to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help prottect themselves, save lives and be part of the beginning of the end of to this pandemic,” said Jeff Bourgeois, San Juan Regional Medical Center President and CEO. “The COVID-19 vaccine is one more tool in our arsenal that we can use to reduce the spread of this virus and save lives.”

Please note that the vaccine we have received is earmarked specifically for healthcare workers and is not available to the general public. 

According to the CDC:

• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
• Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you.
• Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. But experts don’t know how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness.
• Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.
• The combination of getting vaccinated and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.