COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues in Gainesville for those over 65 as healthcare workers at Longstreet Clinic wrap up day one of their vaccine clinic.
The process went smoothly, according to Mimi Collins, CEO of Longstreet Clinic. Patients that have been registered for an appointment checked in at the front desk, filled out paperwork and then made their way to the pharmacy, where blue curtains formed small rooms for patients to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Urvashi Patel, age 70, received the vaccine and said she felt much better and could not wait to receive the second dose.
“[My experience] was wonderful, and it was absolutely easy. I just walked in, no waiting. Just filled out some papers,” Patel said. “And you don’t even know that you get it. It is almost pain-free.”
Collins said they did not receive as much of the vaccine as they requested. Originally, they submitted two requests, one for 1,000 doses and one for 1,500. They only received 300.
“We have worked in partnership with Northeast Georgia Health System and the Health Department,” Collins said. “Because of our need and our demand… both the Health Department and the hospital have been very gracious to transfer some stock to us.”
Next week, Longstreet Clinic staff, as well as those with Northeast Georgia Health System and Northeast Georgia Physicians Group, are hoping to make some enhancements to their MyChart functionality to make it easier to register to receive a vaccine.
“When the patient has a MyChart account, they can go directly to MyChart and on their landing page, there will be a button they can choose to say, ‘I want to register for a vaccine,’ and then they’ll go right to the appointment schedule,” Collins said.
The vaccine is currently available to healthcare workers, individuals in long-term care facilities, those 65 and older, caregivers of those 65 and older, firefighters, EMS, and police officers.
Over the next few weeks, Collins hopes to see “more robust delivery” to continue vaccinating patients.
“My staff pulled all of this together in really short order… which I’m really proud of,” Collins said. “They’ve done a fantastic job.”
More information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available on Longstreet Clinic's website.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/1/971022/longstreet-clinic-in-gainesville-wraps-up-day-one-of-covid-19-vaccine-clinic