DCH: COVID-19 Vaccine Demand Picks Up Amid Surge, Staff Shortages

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health System says local demand for the coronavirus vaccine has seen a sharp increase in recent days, which comes amid an unprecedented nationwide surge in hospitalizations and news of the vaccine receiving full government authorization.

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DCH Vice President of Marketing and Communication Andy North told Patch on Tuesday that the system has roughly 600 vaccination appointments scheduled for this coming Friday. This is a welcome revelation after demand dwindled to approximately 100 doses administered each Friday prior to the present surge in new cases.

"Some of those are third or booster doses, but the majority are first and second doses," he said, sure to mention that the hospital began offering the booster last Friday.

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported on Tuesday that 86,955 Tuscaloosa County residents had received at least one dose of the vaccine, with just short of 70,000 completing their vaccination series.

The jump in demand comes at not a moment too soon, either, as DCH reported 20 new hospitalizations in a single day on Tuesday , bringing the system's overall inpatient total to 146, which is down slightly from the new high the system hit on Monday. Of those patients, roughly 88% have not been vaccinated.

North then explained that DCH has been actively converting standard patient rooms back to rooms with independent ventilation to accommodate coronavirus-positive patients, much in the same way it did during the peak of the previous surge in late 2020 that carried over into this year.

Patch reported on Monday that the current surge in hospitalizations is the heaviest influx of new cases seen by DCH Health System in since late January, progressing to current levels far faster than the last major wave — taking a little more than a month to reach current inpatient census totals that previously came after a progression of roughly eight months.

The demographics of those having to receive inpatient care have also undergone noticeable shifts, with North providing the following for context to underscore what is being seen inside the hospital.

Percentage of COVID-related deaths at DCH by age group:

• 65+ = 72.43%
• 50-64 = 21.43%
• 25-49 = 6.15%

Percentage of COVID-related deaths at DCH for the last 30 days:

• 65+ = 50%
• 50-64 = 33.33%
• 25-49 = 16.67%

"Related to this, in the last 90 days, the age group 25-49 has had more people test positive for COVID at DCH than the age groups 50-64 and 65+ combined," North pointed out.

"The emergency rooms at DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center have both been extremely busy," he added. "These conditions have led to long wait times to see a doctor or be admitted. We are doing the best we can to prioritize care based on the severity of each patient’s condition and could use the community’s help to self-prioritize prior to coming to the ER. Please use primary care or an urgent care if you don’t have an emergency."

While DCH Health System has returned to stringent limitations on visitors as it pivots with the latest wave, North said the system is doing everything in its power to continue providing elective surgeries — the ability to do so being a likely bellwether for local elected officials to then enact public health mandates.

College football season is also approaching in less than two weeks, prompting debate across the country on requiring proof of vaccination for attendance at games. LSU this week became the latest major school to announce its plan to do so for home games, while Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne has yet to move one way or the other on plans to return to full capacity at Bryant-Denny Stadium with no social distancing or vaccination guidelines.

But as concerns of community spreading of the virus are fixed at the forefront of the public's mind, another less-visible threat to the local health care system relates to staffing and nursing shortages — a most unsettling development playing out in community hospital's across the country.

"We are very busy, like many other hospitals across the state, and are actively recruiting staff in many areas," North said. "We continue to request registered nurses in the community who would be willing and interested to pick up a shift as they are able. Those interested should call (205) 333-4772. We are also offering a generous bonus for new full-time nurses."

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