Covid-19 vaccination rate up for employees of the Columbia County Health System

DAYTON—On Aug. 12, The Times reported on the vaccination rate for the Columbia County Health System employees, which stood at about 52 percent.

Columbia County Health System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire said some of the 218 employees had reacted strongly to Governor Jay Inslee’s Aug.9 proclamation that health care workers be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. A few have resigned in response to the mandate.

However, he said ongoing support is being provided to help CCHS healthcare workers with their decision to be vaccinated as a means to retain employment.

“We recognize the need for our staff to have a little time to process this. Many were not opposed to the vaccination but had a strong desire to wait until the available options had a little more time in use.”

He said one of the deciding factors for staff who were initially against the vaccine is because up until Aug. 23, the FDA had only authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use.

Now, with the FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, and additional clarity and guidance from the Washington State Hospital Association and the state Department of Health, he said employees should feel more comfortable getting the vaccine.

At last week’s hospital board meeting, McGuire said that twelve more employees had been vaccinated, eighteen are scheduled for the Aug. 31 clinic, and three more are scheduled for the end of September, since the Aug. 9 proclamation.

To comply with the Oct. 18 deadline, healthcare workers must receive the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine by Sept. 13 and the second dose by Oct 4. First doses of the Moderna vaccine must be given by Sept. 6 and the second dose no later than Oct. 4, and the Johnson and Johnson single-dose vaccine will need to be administered by Oct. 4, he said.

“The pandemic response, along with high patient volumes, have really stressed our staff, and many were struggling with burn-out prior to this latest requirement. I sympathize immensely with those having to make this decision after having given so much over the last eighteen months, but I am confident that this dedicated team will pull together to take care of our community,” McGuire said.

Here are some statistics from last week’s board meeting:

Washington State hospital beds remain 83.7-percent occupied. 16.8 percent of the Acute Care beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients. 85 percent of the ICU beds throughout the state are occupied, and 30.3-percent are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

In Eastern Washington, 91.3 percent of adult staffed beds are occupied, and COVID-19 patients occupy 13.5 percent. 83.8-percent of ICUs beds are occupied, and COVID-19 patients occupy 19.4 percent.

In Columbia County, since Aug. 1, 292 COVID–19 tests have been performed, and 75 were positive, a 25 percent positive rate, higher than the state average of 17.8 percent.

McGuire said since Aug. 1, one COVID-19 patient has been admitted to Dayton General Hospital, and five patients have received IV monoclonal antibody infusions.

COVID-19 patients who are stable are being treated at DGH, but sicker patients are being transferred to outside facilities, which is sometimes challenging because of the shortage of hospital beds.