Heritage Health begins vaccinating employees
Photo courtesy Marc Stewart Reni Fodge, a certified medical assistant with Heritage Health, receives a COVID-19 vaccination.
Heritage Health began vaccinating health care providers and staff against the coronavirus last Friday.
Dr. Peter Purrington, chief clinical officer for Heritage Health, was the first person within the organization to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
“It’s safe and effective,” Purrington said. “The vaccine will reduce the number of people who die or have a serious illness from COVID-19.”
Heritage Health will administer the two-shot vaccine to its health care workers and long-term care residents over the next 30 days. The vaccine is expected to become available to the general public by late spring.
The goal is to have all medical and dental personnel vaccinated by the end of January, Purrington said. Heritage Health employs 293 people, including 83 providers across 12 locations.
“Generally, our staff is very excited about getting vaccinated,” Purrington said. “They want to get back to being able to interact with our patients in a more normal setting.”