St. Joseph s/Candler helping underserved population get COVID-19 vaccines Share Updated: 6:20 PM EST Feb 16, 2021 Share Updated: 6:20 PM EST Feb 16, 2021
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Show Transcript THE CLOSURE IS SET TO LAST THROUGH MARCH 6TH. TONIGHT ST. JOSEPH S-CANDLER HEALTH SYSTEM IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE MORE OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE .. GET IT. OUR DAVE WILLIAMS EXPLAINS. (:01-:16) (:17-:25) (1:01-1:09) THERE ARE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE THAT EITHER DON T HAVE ACCESS TO IT OR ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THAT VACCINE. WELL, NOW ST. JOSEPH S/CANDLER IS TEAMING UP WITH SOME PARTNERS TO HELP CHANGE ALL OF THAT. (PAUL HINCHEY- PRESIDENT & CEO, ST. JOSEPH S/CANDLER) THIS IS THE FIRST EFFORT OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO ADDRESS UNDERSERVED POPULATION . THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS TEAMING UP WITH CHURCHES AND FAITH LEADERS IN SAVANAH TO CREATE POINTS OF DISTRIBU
Savannah Morning News
Editor s note: This article has been updated to reflect that Memorial began vaccinating some seniors on Monday.
Chatham s two big hospital systems are among the top local recipients of the COVID-19 vaccines, with Memorial receiving a cumulative 12,750 doses and St. Joseph s/Candler receiving 13,375, according to data posted Wednesday by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
But St. Joseph s/Candler began vaccinating its 65-and-older a week earlier than Memorial and has done so with a proactive program that reaches out to patients.
Each system first focused on distributing the vaccine to its own healthcare workers, beginning in mid-December. St. Joseph s/Candler also handled vaccinations for local first responders, including police and fire, and Memorial provided vaccines to other healthcare workers, including Georgia Southern University student nurses.