ELY – Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital received a 200-dose COVID-19 vaccine allocation last week and immediately scheduled appointments for the most vulnerable people in the community to receive the life-saving serum.
A vaccine clinic was held last Saturday morning at Vermilion Community College that involved many area health professionals and volunteer community members.
Merlin Pipho, 89, was one of the first lucky patients to receive a jab in the arm at the vaccine clinic held in the VCC gymnasium. Pipho, who doesn’t drive, was accompanied by his caretaker, Linda Nelson.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this day,” Pipho said. “I am so happy to be here to be able to finally get my shot in the arm.” He received the Pfizer vaccine and will return to VCC in several weeks to receive the second dose.
Pipho entered the makeshift clinic and was subjected to a comprehensive screening process. His temperature was taken and, with Nelson’s help, he completed a medical condition questionnaire.
A series of vaccine stations were set up in the gymnasium to adhere to social distancing protocols.
“I never felt a thing,” Pipho said following the jab in the arm containing the coveted vaccine. “I get flu shots every year and they never bother me. I am so glad to get this shot today.”
All who received vaccine were monitored for allergic reactions with members of the Ely Area Ambulance Service standing by.
For now, EBCH is taking COVID-19 vaccine requests from those who are 65 and older, people with underlying health conditions that put them at a higher risk, and essential workers from a variety of health and public service roles.
“We contacted those community members in the order they were listed on our website’s sign-up system,” said Jodi Martin, EBCH marketing and communication team leader.
There are nearly 800 people signed-up on the EBCH waitlist.
“If you didn’t get called this time, please know that our goal is to do our best to ensure that anyone in our service area who wants a COVID-19 vaccination gets one,” she said.
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic was by appointment only and no one was allowed in without an appointment, to comply with the Minnesota Department of Health’s gathering restrictions and social distancing recommendations.
Dr. Julie Houle, a physician who works at the Ely Veterans Administration health clinic, volunteered to help at the vaccine clinic.
“We are part of a miracle here today,” she said, as she prepared to administer vaccines. “I feel very honored to be able to serve these pioneers in our community today.”
She admitted she was “a bit tearful” as she entered the clinic at VCC. “This is just the first stage in fighting this virus,” Houle said.
Chris Schneider, a pharmacist at EBCH, filled dozens of syringes from a group of vaccine vials.
“We have the Pfizer vaccine here and that means we will be repeating this process in about 21 days to administer the required second dose for these patients,” he said.
Once more vaccine becomes available, EBCH we will contact a second group of community members to receive the vaccine.
“We ask that the public be patient as we work through this process and understand that we are a small healthcare system with limited staff resources,” Martin said. “We will not be able to respond to calls inquiring about one’s placement on the list. We encourage the public to take advantage of every opportunity they can to get a vaccination, including using the MyChart system if you are an Essentia Health patient or registering for the MDH pilot site in Mt. Iron.”
St. Louis County Public Health Director Amy Westbrook had unsolicited high praise for EBCH and the Ely community during a Tuesday interview with the Timberjay.
“I want to say that Ely-Bloomenson and the Ely community have just really come together,” Westbrook said. “Ely-Bloomenson has been a great partner in getting vaccine out into the community and out into congregate care settings. They have run very smooth operations and they know how to run vaccination clinics. They’re doing a great job. I really want to commend Ely as a community and especially Ely-Bloomenson hospital.”