Coronavirus Vaccinations At North Shore Medical, Beverly Hospital

SALEM, MA — Coronavirus vaccinations began at North Shore Hospital on Wednesday, while Beverly Hospital is expected to start its vaccinations of front-line workers on Thursday.

Registered Nurse Michele Hnath became the first member of North Shore Medical Center staff to receive the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday. The intensive care unit staff members are among those with the greatest exposure to the coronavirus virus, so they are among the first wave to receive the vaccine.

The North Shore Medical Center said Wednesday afternoon that the first 15 members of the staff were to get the Pfizer shot on Thursday as part of an eight-week program to inoculate all staff.

A Beverly Hospital spokesperson told Patch on Wednesday that its staff inoculations are scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Beth Israel Lahey Health Center, which runs Beverly Hospital, is coordinating the vaccinations.

"A multi-disciplinary BILH Vaccine Command Team has developed a highly coordinated, systematic plan and a consistent set of criteria for administrating the vaccine to our staff and ultimately, our patients over the next several months," said Richard Nesto, Chief Medical Officer and Incident Commander, Beth Israel Lahey Health, in a statement to Patch. "This team has been working with our local teams at Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals.

"Based on guidance we received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, we are prioritizing administration of the vaccine to patient-facing clinicians and staff who are at the greatest risk of exposure to patients with COVID-19 based on their work location and the patients they support."

More Patch Coverage: Some Beverly Hospital Staff May Get Vaccine As Soon As Wednesday

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