Cam Bonelli|Hattiesburg American
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During his weekly briefing with area hospitals Wednesday, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said while both Forrest General and Merit Health Wesley have received allotments of the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, it willtake time for the public to get vaccines.
"A lot of folks have been asking our office, 'When can I get a vaccine?'" Barker said. "The problem is there's only one that is approved right now — Pfizer — and hopefully Moderna will get FDA approval as well," Barker said. "The priority is going to be front line health care staff and long-term care facility staff."
According to Barker, no long-term care facilities in the Hattiesburg area have yet received vaccines.
Matthew Banks, Merit Health Wesley CEO, said Thursday getting the vaccine has brought hope and new energy to the hospital.
"It'scertainly exciting to see some light," Banks said. "It's been a long journey and, for me, it's been so impressive to see what the staff at the hospital and the physicians have done to really make a difference. They are certainly true heroes in my opinion."
Forrest General Hospital
Forrest General Hospital receivedan initial shipment of 195 vials — the equivalent of 975 doses — Monday and vaccinated approximately 66health care workersTuesday and168 Wednesday.Vaccinations are continuing at the hospital.
Stephen Farrell, MD, chief medical officer at Forrest General, said the hospital had a work team that planned the administration of the vaccine. Farrell alsotook the vaccine Tuesday.
Farrell said that it'snatural for people to be fearful of anything that's new, and he studied literature before taking the vaccine.
"There's been a lot of information that's been disseminated," Farrell said."It's really incredible science that they have been able to develop a vaccine as quickly as they did, not just in one company but in more than one company that has similar techniques."
Farrell said the vaccine is effective and safe, and after taking the vaccine, he experiencedminor side effects.
"I had a slight sore arm (Wednesday),didn't have any effects (Tuesday)and a very slight headache this morning (Wednesday) when I woke up —two of the reported side effects of getting the vaccine," Farrell said in a Facebook video update.
Health care workers at the hospital, he said, are not required to take the vaccine, but have been provided educational material to make their own decisions.
"There is no requirement to take the vaccine. It is purely optional," Farrell said. "We surveyed staff to determine who wanted and didn’t want the vaccine."
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Merit Health Wesley
Merit Health Wesley received itsallotmentWednesdayof 100 doses and began administeringthevaccine to employees Thursday.Banks said the hospital would continue to give the vaccine to front-line employees throughout the week and expected to receive 100 more doses Tuesday through itshospital network.
"We are fortunate to have enough doses... anyone who works here in the hospital will be assured a dose," Banks said.
The hospital, he said, isprioritizing employees who work directly with COVID-19 patients, ICU workers, nurses working in COVID-19 units and respiratory therapists. While employees are not required to take the vaccine, Banks said he is encouraging his staff to do so.
"We did a survey in advance to get the feelings of our staff and we anticipate 400 to 500 of our staff to take the vaccine," Banks said.
Merit Health Wesley employs about 1,200. Banks said the hospital provided resources for staff to make decisions about taking the vaccine.
"I'm super excited that we can offer this to our staff," Banks said.
Vaccine in Mississippi: Top health officials take COVID-19 vaccine, discuss state distribution
Focus on front-line health care workers
The initial phase of the vaccine focuses on administering it to front linehealth care workers and long-term care facility patients, which account for nearly 175,850individuals in the state, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.
The vaccine is administered in two doses, and staff will receive the next dose in approximately 19 to 23 days. To accommodate the vaccine,Forrest Generalordered an ultra-low freezer to store the COVID-19vaccine, which is stored at minus 112to minus 76 degrees. Merit Health Wesley had equipment available to accommodate the vaccine.
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When will the vaccine be widely available?
The Mississippi State Department of Healthsubmitted the state'svaccination planOct. 16, detailing the three phases in which the vaccine will be administered.
Phase one focuses on health care workers and long-term care facility patients. As more of the vaccine becomes available, phase two will provide vaccines forcritical populations, such as essential workers, emergency personnel and law enforcement.Phase three will be implemented when the supply and demand of the vaccine is steady to distribute to thepublic.
With the phasing of the vaccine, Farrell said the government is providing the vaccine at no cost for the patients and the hospitals.
The vaccine rollout has been fairly quick.
"If we look at how fast its been rolled out to hospitals, we believe most of the larger hospitals and health care facilities have received the Pfizer vaccine starting on Monday and the Modernavaccine should be available next week, going to the smaller hospitals and clinics," Farrell said. "Again, this will go to the health care providers who take care of people with the COVID-19 illness."
Farrell said it's possible thevaccine could be available to the general public within one to two months.
Banks said the timeline for the general population to get vaccinated is targeted in the spring and maybe into the summer.
"The rollout for the public is expected to be given out through health departments or an individual's private physician," Banks said.
Barker said during his weekly briefing that its important for everyone to understand that widespread vaccine availability could be months away and people should continue social distancing guidelines.
"Those are the things we have to continue to do to buy us time until the vaccine is widely available," Barker said.
Contact Cam Bonelliat cbonelli@gannett.com. Follow her onTwitter@cambonelli.
