In early December 2020, UC Health took a monumental step toward the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by becoming one of the first health systems in the state of Ohio to start distributing COVID-19 vaccine to frontline healthcare workers. Since then, UC Health has distributed 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines to the community.
“100,000 doses and proud. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve our Greater Cincinnati community. Thank you for trusting us to keep you safe,” said Shelly Dusing Wiest, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy services for UC Health.
In celebration of this major achievement, UC Health’s pharmacy team recognized the patient who received the 100,000th vaccine dose. On Thursday, April 22, Kevin Li received the official 100,000th dose at the UC Health COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center, located at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute in Clifton. The pharmacy team presented Li with flowers and a round of applause while he checked in with a pharmacist.
“I am doing my part by helping to protect my family and friends. It is the right thing to do, and I hope others will come out and do the same,” said Li, a student at the UC College–Conservatory of Music.
Along with the pharmacy team, the UC Health Call Center has had a major part in the distribution of vaccines. They are the ones who take all the phone calls from the public as different distribution phases are announced by the state of Ohio. The center has received over 27,000 calls since UC Health began community vaccinations in mid-January.
“The access team and I are grateful to be a part of an organization that saves lives. We will always be there to answer the call,” said Michael Townsend, director of access scheduling for ambulatory services at UC Health.
UC Health Pharmacy has had more than 250 team members on-site on the Clifton Campus since Dec. 14, 2020, when they received the first shipment of doses of the Pfizer vaccine. UC Health was one of the first healthcare systems in Ohio to receive the COVID-19 vaccine after it was approved for emergency use authorization by the FDA.
“Please send your friends and family members who still need to get their vaccinations. We want to provide hope to people, and we have that here with the amazing resources an academic health system provides,” Shelly said.
UC Health’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center is located in a drive-through setting, allowing safe and convenient access for those interested in receiving their vaccine. UC Health will continue to offer vaccinations to all members of the community as it receives additional doses from the state.
About UC Health
UC Health is an integrated academic health system serving the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. In partnership with the University of Cincinnati, UC Health combines clinical expertise and compassion with research and teaching – a combination that provides patients with options for even the most complex situations. Members of UC Health include: UC Medical Center, West Chester Hospital, Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care, Bridgeway Pointe Assisted Living, University of Cincinnati Physicians and UC Health Ambulatory Services (with more than 900 board-certified clinicians and surgeons), Lindner Center of HOPE and several specialized institutes and centers, including: UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute; UC Cancer Center; and UC Heart, Lung & Vascular Institute. Many UC Health locations have received national recognition for outstanding quality and patient satisfaction. Learn more at UCHealth.com.