December 21, 2020 – As part of the Coastal Health District distribution
of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Georgia Department of Public
Health visited the Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick and Camden
campuses December 17-22, 2020, to distribute more than 450 vaccine doses
to frontline team members.
“Our team members are being offered the opportunity to receive the
vaccine as it becomes available on a prioritized basis, with clinical
team members and physicians who care for COVID-19 patients, especially
our critical care staff and our Senior Care Center staff, as our first
in line,” says
Michael D. Scherneck, president & CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System. “Stress levels
are high as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in our community and across
the nation, but the vaccine is a huge step forward in the fight against
coronavirus and protecting our team members’ health while caring
for patients.”
Stephen A. Chitty IV, M.D., board-certified internal medicine doctor specializing in pulmonary care
and Medical Director of Critical Care for the Brunswick Campus, was one
of the first team members to receive the vaccine. Chitty has worked tirelessly
throughout the pandemic, serving the community and caring for critical
patients suffering from COVID-19.
“Caring for patients and serving the community is a calling for me,
but this year has certainly been a challenge. Health care providers are
risking their personal health on a daily basis, and worse, putting their
own family’s health at risk,” says Chitty. “It’s
been a long year to say the least, but finally, we have an offensive approach
to fending off COVID-19. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Although the vaccine will prevent those who receive it from contracting
COVID-19,
Steven F. Mosher, M.D., infectious disease specialist, Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Infectious
Disease, still encourages health care workers and the public alike to
remain vigilant in the fight against coronavirus.
“The spread of COVID-19 is still something to guard against, even
after vaccination,” says Mosher. “It is unknown whether you
can still carry and transmit the virus to others after vaccination, and
it will take time for everyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine to get one.
Until the majority of the population has been vaccinated, I encourage
you to continue wearing a mask, to social distance and wash your hands
frequently.”
In early December, the Health System purchased a 33.5 cubic foot, ultra-cold,
negative 80 degrees Celsius freezer in preparation to store the COVID-19
vaccine. The freezer has the capacity to contain 7,500, 10-dose vials
for a total of 75,000 doses.
“As nationwide distribution progresses, our pharmacy is ready to
receive and store the vaccine,” says Scherneck. “Our leadership
team meets daily to discuss the latest news on both COVID-19 and its vaccine,
and how we can best meet the needs of our patients, team members and our
community at large. When the time comes to begin vaccine distribution
to the public, we’ll be ready.”
The Pfizer vaccine is distributed in two shots spaced 21 days apart. The
messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine has some common side effects, including pain,
swelling and redness at the location of the vaccine injection, along with
chills, tiredness and headache throughout the body. According to the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC), these side effects may begin within one to
two days after receiving the vaccine and may feel life flu symptoms, but
will resolve within a few days.
“I encourage everyone to ‘trust the science’ and get
the vaccine as soon as it is available,” states
Shirley D. Wilson, M.D., board-certified physician with
Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Obstetrics & Gynecology. “Arm soreness can be expected with any vaccine, and any other possible
side effects are minor compared to actually getting COVID-19 or spreading
it to loved ones. We all want an end to COVID-19, to return to our normal
lives, hug our families and friends, travel and socialize. This will become
possible if we get the vaccine.”