1 year after Valley s first confirmed COVID case, officials say end to pandemic in sight
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MADERA, Calif. (KFSN) Nearly 3,500 flags line the lawn at Madera Community Hospital.
Each one represents a COVID-19 patient who was treated there in the past year, but they also serve as a reminder of the day the deadly virus arrived in the Central Valley.
On March 5th, 2020, the state health department contacted Madera County public health officials about a couple returning from the Grand Princess Cruise which had an outbreak of the virus.
While isolating, one of the patients developed symptoms. Everyone was more scared, we made plans to have them come through a different entrance. Now it s all second nature, recalls Dr. Terrance McGovern.
COVID-19 vaccine appointments canceled in Madera County due to shortage in doses
Of the hundreds of appointments canceled, most were seniors over 75 years old.
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MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) First-time vaccine appointments have suddenly come to a halt at the Madera County Social Services Building.
Due to a shortage in supply, health officials say 824 people in Madera County are finding out their turn at receiving the COVID-19 vaccine has been postponed indefinitely. It s really difficult for us to predict at the local level what that supply chain is going to look like in the coming weeks and months, says Madera County Public Health Director Sara Bosse.
Madera County needs volunteers to help with COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Valley health officials are trying to speed up the coronavirus vaccination process while preparing for another surge in cases.
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FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) With ICU beds stretched thin because of the COVID-19 surge, Valley Children s Hospital is hoping to get help in preparing for adult patients.
In a statement, the hospital s vice president of medical affairs said, Given the current widespread transmission of COVID-19 and the stress on adult facilities throughout the State and our region, our current surge planning accepts patients ages 25 and younger.
This comes as state officials imposed a health order requiring hospitals with space to take in transfer patients from regions with little to no bed space.
The excitement from the staff was noticeable. When they asked me yesterday when do you want it, I say yesterday, said Dr. Mohommad Ashraf, a cardiologist at the hospital. They say we don t have the vaccine yesterday, I say whenever the vaccine comes in, I shall be the first one.
Dr. Ashraf and 19 other staff members at Madera Community Hospital were given the vaccine Thursday afternoon. Another 20 staff members will be vaccinated on Friday, and that number is expected to ramp up next week.
The vaccinations come as the nation is seeing record numbers of COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations, but the death that impacted Dr. Ashraf the most came at the dawn of this pandemic: a colleague of 40 years.
Valley Children s administers COVID-19 vaccine to hospital healthcare workers
Video posted to Instagram shows Dr. Peter Witt, Valley Children s Medical Director of Plastic Surgery, cheering as he receives his vaccination.
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FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) Healthcare workers at Valley Children s Hospital are among the first to get the Pfizer vaccine in the Central Valley.
Video provided by the hospital gives us a glimpse inside their vaccine clinic. Laura Yamamoto was one of the first 140 to get the shot.
She just returned to work last week after surviving her own fierce battle against the coronavirus. I was extremely sick, she said. I had to be in the ICU for two weeks and I lost my brother and father at the same time.