COVID-19 Vaccinations Running Smoothly

After vaccinating two bedside nurses yesterday, this morning Mercy Hospital Springfield began its first full day of vaccine distribution to co-workers.

The hospital’s infectious disease doctors were among the first to roll up their sleeves, emphasizing their confidence in the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. “I’ve looked at the studies, and I trust the FDA and the CDC’s review,” said Dr. Will Sistrunk. “I had family members who were part of the trials. They reported the mild symptoms you’d expect to see with a vaccine – low fever, body aches and headache. Those are actually good to see, because it means the vaccine is working.”

To keep everyone socially distanced and focused on patient care, co-workers are scheduling appointments for their shots. The process has been moving quickly, but more nurses will be added to distribute the vaccine if a line develops.

Dr. Corinne Rao, a hospital-based physician at Mercy Hospital Lebanon, was the first vaccine recipient at that facility this morning. Vaccine distribution there will get up to full speed tomorrow.

Plans are in the works to get vaccine to frontline workers at Mercy Hospital Aurora, Mercy Hospital Cassville, and Mercy St. Francis Hospital in Mountain View, Missouri. Co-workers in those facilities and at area clinics also have the option of coming to Mercy Hospital Springfield to get their shots.

“I think it’s very fitting that the vaccine is rolling out during the season of Advent,” said Craig McCoy, president of Mercy Springfield Communities. “It’s a time when we hear from scripture about how people walking in darkness have seen a great light. At Mercy, we have prayed for this moment. It feels like we’re turning a corner, and we thank God for it.”

For video from today’s vaccination clinic, please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da1CvrjKwHU

Photo caption: Dr. Corinne Rao, a hospital-based physician at Mercy Hospital Lebanon, receives that facility's first COVID-19 vaccine.

Mercy Springfield Communities is comprised of Mercy Hospital Springfield, an 866-bed referral center; an orthopedic hospital; a rehab hospital; a children’s hospital; four regional hospitals in Lebanon, Aurora, Cassville, and Mountain View, Missouri; and Mercy Clinic, a physician clinic with nearly 700 doctors and locations throughout the region. It is part of Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems for four consecutive years (2016 to 2019) by IBM Watson Health, which serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 45,000 co-workers and 2,400 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy's IT division, Mercy Technology Services, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients from coast to coast.