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January 6, 2021

YNHH giving second COVID-19 vaccine doses

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED YNHH Nurse Mackenzie Kelley received her second dose of the COVID vaccine on Jan. 5.  Administering the second dose is Nurse Kari Cason.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Yale New Haven Health officials said some staff members received their second COVID-19 vaccine doses this week.

The health system launched the vaccination campaign in mid-December.

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, said some 16,000 staff members have received the initial dose already. Two doses are needed. 

“For us, it represents a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Balcezak, who has been vaccinated himself. 

The health system has extended invitations to its entire staff, some 33,000 employees, but not everyone has availed themselves of the first dose yet.

When asked if people are resistant to getting vaccinated, Balcezak said, “There are pockets of individuals waiting to see how others do.”

The health system does not plan to make getting vaccinated mandatory for employees, he said.

Instead, they are focused on an education campaign, which includes addressing any concerns people might have.

“It is safe, effective, and the best way you can protect yourself against the virus,” Balcezak said.

Marna P. Borgstrom, CEO, Yale New Haven Health, said it has been “emotional” for many who have gotten the vaccine.

“Even seasoned caregivers get emotional - to feel you are developing resistance is very important to caregivers,” Borgstrom said.

Second wave

Borgstrom reported that the health system had 332 inpatients with COVID-19 as of Wednesday. This is a decline from the November COVID-19 population, when there were 416.

The 332 inpatients include 160 at Yale New Haven Hospital, 87 at Bridgeport Hospital, 40 at Lawrence + Memorial in New London, 36 at Greenwich Hospital, and nine at Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island. Of these, about 76 were being cared for in intensive care units.

Overall, the health system has discharged about 7,100 people to their homes, and has had 858 COVID-19 fatalities, Borgstrom said. 

In contrast to the current COVID-19 population of inpatients, back in the spring, there were over 800 across the health system.

“This (current) wave has a smaller total number, so efforts to curb the spread of the virus are working,” Balcezak said.

He reported that they are seeing “essentially no influenza” in Yale’s medical institutions.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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