Updated Jan. 15, 2021 Following the guidelines set forth by the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC, Riverside will begin to vaccinate Riverside patients, age 75 and older, who have a Riverside primary care physician. Here are steps you can take today:
COVID-19 Vaccine Preparation UpdateModerna vs. Pfizer Vaccine Comparison Updated as of Jan. 13, 2021 Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Click here to read update. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. Click here to read update. Riverside’s dedication to continuing the fight against COVID-19 in our communities has never wavered. We are completing Phase 1a vaccinations and are proud of our vaccine clinic teams’ excellent work and success across Riverside Health System. To date, we are excited to share that we have distributed more than 9,000 vaccines to nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers both within and outside of our health system including hundreds of paramedics and EMTs. We have distributed roughly 75% of the doses provided to us by the state, which is more than double the national average. Riverside is excited to move forward with our vaccination efforts. Our organization has entered into Phase 1b as of Wednesday, January 13, starting with scheduling vaccination appointments for Riverside patients, age 75 years of age and older, who have a Riverside primary care physician. We know that many members of the public including those 65 years of age to 74 years of age as well as other essential workers have many questions as to when they will have access to the vaccine. We are working closely with other regional health systems and the Virginia Department of Health to develop detailed plans for these groups once adequate supplies of vaccines become available. While eager to vaccinate all Riverside Primary Care patients, the supply on hand today is very limited. As additional doses become available to us, we will work to administer them as quickly as possible as allowed by the Virginia Department of Health and the federal government. We have developed extensive plans and have set a goal to vaccinate 5,000 people per week if vaccine supply proves adequate, and our top priority is to maximize the speed of vaccination. The state will decide how many doses we receive and when our Riverside Medical Group locations receive the vaccine, but our teams have prepared and are ready to immediately move forward when the time comes so we can make the vaccine available to patients as quickly as possible. As the vaccine becomes available to a patient’s priority group, we will do our best to notify them of that availability and share immediate next steps for scheduling the vaccination appointment via Riverside MyChart. If you haven't already, we encourage you to sign up for Riverside MyChart to receive vaccine notifications and information. To learn more about Riverside MyChart, visit riversideonline.com/mychart. If you do not have a Riverside MyChart account, once you become eligible based on government guidelines, we will send you a notification via text or email with specific information on scheduling your vaccination appointment. Guidance is continually being updated. As these updates are available, we are committed to sharing them with the community to make sure everyone has access to the most current information. Our goal is to help patients make the best decisions for their health. We understand there is an overwhelming amount of information available about the vaccines and we will continue to inform the community of what’s happening at the local level, and how exactly that information will impact their lives. #RiversideStrong Frequently Asked QuestionsUpdated January 14, 2021 For Riverside patients, we are following the guidelines set forth by the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC and will begin to vaccinate Riverside patients, age 75 and older, who have a Riverside primary care physician. I was a patient at one of your hospitals but do not have a Riverside primary care doctor. Why isn’t Riverside offering the vaccine to everyone? I am a Riverside primary care patient. What can I do to be prepared for when it is my turn to schedule my vaccine appointment?
Why do I need to schedule an appointment for the vaccine? Where can I find more information on what phase I am in? Will I still need to wear a mask after I receive the vaccine? Does the vaccine mean that other safety measures and restrictions can be relaxed or removed? What has Riverside done to prepare for a COVID-19 vaccine? When will the vaccine be available?
Riverside is excited to continue moving forward with our vaccination efforts as our organization has moved into Phase 1b as of Wednesday, January 13. We are starting to schedule vaccination appointments for Riverside patients that fall into Phase 1b, including Riverside patients 75 years of age and older. We know that many members of the public age 65 and over as well as other essential workers have many questions as to when they will have access to the vaccine. We are working closely with other regional health systems and the Virginia Department of Health to develop detailed plans for these groups once adequate supplies of vaccines become available. More information on Phase 1a, 1b and 1c can be found on the VDH website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/ What if there aren’t enough doses of the vaccine available? If there are not enough doses available immediately for all those who want it, we view that as a positive sign that our team and the community trusts in the safety and efficacy data as we do. Riverside has been planning for the arrival of the vaccine by purchasing cold freezers and coordinating logistics at a local, state, and federal level to ensure everyone who wants a vaccine can receive one at the appropriate time. As we receive more information about next steps and additional doses, our team is prepared to administer those and will continue to share updates related to timing and availability. More information on phase 1a, 1b and 1c can be found on the VDH website: Will I need more than one dose of the vaccine? What will it cost to get the vaccine? Is there a second wave of vaccines coming if I'm not in a priority group? How effective will the vaccine be? How long will immunity from the vaccine last? How effective is the vaccine on newer strains of the COVID-19 virus? How will other strains impact my care? How do you know the vaccine is safe? What are the side effects of the vaccine going to be?
If I’ve already tested positive for COVID-19, should I still get the vaccine? Are there concerns around the interaction between the flu and COVID-19 vaccines? Is there anyone who should not get a COVID-19 vaccine? What if I have a chronic condition?
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
In the NewsRiverside experts share what they know with local and national media.
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