CHARLOTTE, MI – Sixty Sparrow Eaton Hospital caregivers received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at 6 a.m. Monday, with 150 expected to be vaccinated by the end of the week.
“We are incredibly proud to be able to offer this vaccine to our family of healthcare heroes, said Gisli Haraldsson, M.D., Sparrow Eaton’s Chief of Emergency Medicine. “This pandemic represented the darkest of days for many and put great strain on our caregivers and community members alike, both personally and professionally. To be among the first healthcare systems to receive the vaccine is a great privilege.”
Sparrow Eaton, a subsidiary of Sparrow Health System, is encouraging all caregivers to get vaccinated.
“We are actively responding to questions and sharing medical perspectives as a means to educate our caregivers, in hopes that we can see this pandemic come to an end. We are also working on plans to help our local community get the vaccine, too, as soon as enough is available,” said Tiffany Friar, Chief Nursing Officer of Sparrow Eaton.
Sparrow Eaton caregivers are receiving the Moderna vaccine, a two-dose vaccination that is 94.5 percent effective at preventing the COVID-19 virus after the second shot. The vaccine is safe for anyone 18 years and older.
“This vaccination is our best approach to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but does not replace the need to continue playing our part by wearing a mask, exercising proper hand washing and practicing social distancing,” said Rhonda Perreault, Sparrow Eaton’s Director of Pharmacy.
Sparrow Hospital caregivers began receiving the vaccine on Dec. 17 and vaccinations have also begun at other Sparrow Community Hospitals.
For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and Sparrow Health System’s response to COVID-19, please visit Sparrow.org/SparrowForward.
Photo captions: Kimberly Friar, M.D., of Sparrow Medical Group Charlotte Family Medicine 123 receives the COVID-19 vaccine this morning.
Receiving the vaccine shipment at Sparrow Eaton’s loading dock are (from left) Kim Capps, Sparrow Eaton Chief Financial Officer; Rhonda Perrault, Pharmacy Director; and Tiffany Friar, Chief Nursing Officer.
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Sparrow Eaton Hospital is a subsidiary of Sparrow Health System. As Mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization, Sparrow includes hospitals in Lansing, Carson City, Charlotte, Ionia and St. Johns, as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group, the Michigan Athletic Club, and AL!V E. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.
