First COVID-19 Vaccines Administered to Front-line staff at Carris Health – Redwood

Carris Health – Redwood administered their first COVID-19 vaccinations to local healthcare workers on December 29.

“It is a momentous occasion to see our frontline staff receiving this vaccine to protect them in their work as they care for our community,” said Carnie Allex, Carris Health – Redwood Administrator.

CentraCare has plans in place to administer the vaccine throughout the health system, including Carris Health – Redwood using a team of vaccinators. On the first day of vaccinations in Redwood, 36 employees received the vaccine.

“We will continue vaccinating staff weekly until all eligible staff who want the vaccine have received it,” explained Lydia Luepke, Carris Health – Redwood Infection Prevention Manager.

Vaccinations will follow the prioritization criteria set by the CDC. The first priority group includes frontline healthcare staff who work directly with patients with diagnosed or suspected COVID-19, long-term care staff and residents and emergency medical services personnel. The second and third groups of first-priority healthcare employees includes all health care personnel who are unable to work from home.

“This vaccine is just one part of our strategy as we battle COVID,” explained Dr. Joshua Friese, Carris Health – Redwood Clinic Medical Director. “Until we can provide vaccinations for all of our community, we ask you to help do your part to slow the spread of this virus by wearing masks, social distancing and quarantining if you have symptoms or exposure to COVID.”