FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Michelle Aliprantis, MBA
Regional Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications
MAliprantis@primehealthcare.com
Lower Bucks Hospital Receives Temporary Allocation of the J&J Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine
Bristol, PA (April 6, 2021) – In its fight against COVID-19, Lower Bucks Hospital has now received 400 doses of the J & J Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for distribution. The temporary decision came from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH), after they received our letters, comments, and advocacy on behalf of Lower Bucks Hospital to provide us with additional vaccines.
Lower Bucks Hospital will be administering the J&J Janssen vaccine this Wednesday, April 7, from 7am-4:30pm. We do not offer scheduling at Lower Bucks Hospital. The scheduling for the COVID-19 vaccine is through the Bucks County Department of Health and Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP).
However, this is a temporary allocation. The PA DOH stated, “ Due to continued limited Federal supply, the Pennsylvania Department of Health will not be able to meet demands of this nature each week. ”They are unable to guarantee future allocations to Lower Bucks Hospital, but said, “Lower Bucks Hospital is still welcome to continue with requesting if desired.”
The PA DOH added, ”The Department’s decisions on selecting providers for this temporary focused network were driven by in-depth data analysis with the ultimate goal to move shots into arms at a faster and equitable pace.” In addition, the PA DOH took into consideration several factors, including geographic and equity reach, provider survey data, and having at least one provider per county.
“The addition of a third vaccine adds another weapon to the arsenal in fighting COVID-19,” said Lea Rodriguez, chief nursing officer of Lower Buck Hospital. “In preparation for the J&J doses, we’ve been thinking about the last year in which we’ve battled COVID-19 every day. When this started, there was only one weapon to fight this virus: the hard work, knowledge and dedication of the health care community is helping to mitigate risks of getting the virus which is top priority.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine on February 27, 2021. The J&J vaccine is 86 percent effective against the most severe form of COVID-19 and no patients who received the vaccine in their trials died or required hospitalization. It joins the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in use throughout the U.S.
Rodriguez added, “There are still lots of logistics that needs to be figured out, as we don’t know if the J&J vaccine will continue to come on a regular basis. We are still working through everything with the state and hope we can continue to receive first doses throughout the year.”
Information changes daily and the community is encouraged to frequently check the Bucks County Department of Health website for COVID-19 and vaccine updates.
Lower Bucks Hospital strongly advises everyone to continue to take steps to limit the spread of the virus and reduce strain on our healthcare workers. These actions include wearing a mask when leaving home, limiting interactions with those outside your immediate household, keeping a physical distance of at least six feet apart, avoiding non-essential travel, and getting the COVID-19 vaccine when you are eligible.
Helpful COVID-19 and Vaccine Informational Links:
About Lower Bucks Hospital: Lower Bucks Hospital is a community hospital, serving the Lower Bucks County region with medical, surgical, and emergency care. Lower Bucks Hospital is a 150-bed acute care teaching hospital that offers both clinical expertise and quality care to all patients. Located in historic Bristol, Pennsylvania, the Hospital is well-known for its knowledgeable medical staff, including cardiology, orthopedics, wound care, physical therapy, radiology, and general surgery. The hospital has more than 200 physicians on staff, as well as another 700 employees.
As a member of Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, Lower Bucks Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology. Prime Healthcare is an award-winning hospital management company operating 46 acute care hospitals in 14 states, including Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, Suburban Community Hospital in Montgomery County, and Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol.