Morris Hospital Continues Administering COVID-19 Vaccine to Staff
December 29, 2020, MORRIS, IL – Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers resumed administering the COVID-19 vaccine to physicians and staff on December 29 following delivery of the hospital’s first official supply of vaccine. The hospital received 700 doses of the Moderna vaccine on December 28 as part of Phase 1a of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Program, which includes healthcare workers.
Nine days earlier – on December 20 – an unexpected, small supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was administered to 120 staff and physicians at Morris Hospital when a neighboring county offered supply that was nearing expiration due to storage requirements specific to the Pfizer vaccine.
After the 700 doses of the Moderna vaccine are administered over the next few days, Morris Hospital officials say they anticipate being able to order additional vaccine supply to administer to staff as needed, although information is not available regarding the specific time frame.
Staff who received the Pfizer vaccine on December 20 are scheduled to receive their second dose January 7-8. Those receiving the Moderna vaccine this week will be receiving their second dose January 26-28, as Moderna vaccine requires an additional week between doses.
While Morris Hospital isn’t mandating the vaccine, staff is strongly encouraged to receive it.
“Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use technology that has been under investigation for a decade, and the clinical trials for both demonstrated that the vaccines are 94-95% effective,” said Alyssa Knoderer, Pharmacy Director at Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers.
“Neither the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine use the live virus that causes COVID-19, which means it’s not possible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine. We highly encourage everyone who is able to receive the vaccine.”
While time frames for subsequent phases of the State’s Mass Vaccination Program haven’t been announced, community residents should watch for announcements from the health department where they reside as information becomes available.
About Morris Hospital
Serving patients at 26 locations, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers includes the 89-bed Morris Hospital, as well as physician offices in Braidwood, Channahon, Coal City, Dwight, Gardner, Marseilles, Mazon, Minooka, Morris, Newark, Ottawa, Seneca, and Yorkville. Through the services of over 1,700 healthcare professionals, physicians and volunteers, Morris Hospital provides lifesaving cardiac intervention with angioplasty and stents, a radiation therapy center for cancer patients, state-of-the-art intensive care unit, sleep center, and walk-in care at four locations. Morris Hospital is a Level II trauma center, Level II perinatal care provider, and primary stroke center. The hospital is known for its compassionate and personalized approach to healthcare and receives national recognition for quality and safety.
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