Stony Brook Teamwork Rallies Massive Vaccination Effort

At Stony Brook Medicine, we always pull together as a team to get things done. And the massive project to begin the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine has been no exception. So many people have rallied together to start this enormous undertaking with the arrival of the first two coronavirus vaccines.

Last week, we expanded our distribution of the first doses of the vaccine through a series of COVID-19 Vaccine Point of Dispensing (POD) events in the MART and at Tech Park. Sessions began early in the morning and ran well into the evening, with many hospital staff volunteering to assist in the process. We also supported community PODs at Stony Brook University and at Quannacut Outpatient Services in Riverhead.

Many, many departments – from Nursing, Pharmacy, Operations, Information Technology, Facilities, Facilities Planning, Employee Health and Wellness, Human Resources, Emergency Preparedness and well beyond – assisted in this incredible undertaking. Staff came from every area of the organization to help. As a result of this total team effort, and thanks to a lot of hard work behind the scenes, the rollout process was smooth and orderly. Many staff who received the vaccine were deeply emotional about this personal and historic moment, which marks the beginning of a turning point in fighting the pandemic and assuring the health and safety of ourselves and our loved ones.

Thanks to everyone’s unfailing efforts, we met the state’s deadline on Friday to administer our first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, and we began to give second doses to those vaccinated in December. It would be impossible to acknowledge everyone among the hundreds of people who made this happen. In true Stony Brook fashion, our staff overcame many barriers and kept its eyes on the goal of vaccinating as many staff as possible – a daunting task which will continue for months to come.

A new year always brings new hope and optimism for the future, but that sentiment is especially appropriate for 2021, with the arrival of the vaccines. After a year spent fighting a raging pandemic, there is genuine belief that we can finally turn the corner and bring this dreaded disease under control.

At the same time, we know the battle is far from over. On Monday, we had 180 COVID patients in the hospital. Only a month earlier, that number was 93. Our staff continues to do a truly remarkable job of rising to the challenge and doing whatever it takes to care for our patients during this pandemic, even as the number of cases grows among the population and our own workforce. And we will continue support you in any way possible, until the dawn finally breaks for a new day.

This is a time to count on each other, to reach out and get the help we need. It is never a sign of weakness to reach out and seek support; it is a sign of strength. It is how Stony Brook gets things done.

We know that we have one final hurdle to clear this winter, one final surge to overcome. But we know that the best way we can get through it is by working together as a team.

There is real reason for hope. May 2021 be our best year ever.

Carol