Operating room support team member at Atlantic Health receives 100,000th dose
SUMMIT, NJ – February 19, 2021 – Today Atlantic Health System administered its 100,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at its vaccination clinic at Overlook Medical Center. The dose of the Pfizer vaccine was the first of two doses to be administered to Patricia Fleming-Drisco, a member of the operating room support staff at Overlook.
“After losing six family members (to COVID-19), including my dad, I feel it’s very important as an African-American to have this vaccine,” said Fleming-Drisco.
Since the Atlantic Health System vaccination program began last December, more than 80% of the doses delivered by the health system have been to members of the community, after the state expanded eligibility beyond frontline caregivers. Atlantic Health System has opened nearly a dozen vaccine clinics, including facilities operated in collaboration with host communities in Rockaway Township and Summit. Those interested in making a vaccination appointment can sign up for an appointment alert at the Atlantic Health System website.
“While we know we have many more community members to vaccinate before we put this pandemic behind us, today is an important milestone in our fight against this virus,” said Brian Gragnolati, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlantic Health System. “We are so proud of every Atlantic Health caregiver who has been involved in this effort and thankful for our community partners for their collaboration. Without their service, talent and concern for others, we wouldn’t be recognizing this achievement today.”
The vaccine is available only to those who live, work or are being educated in the state, and individuals must qualify in accordance with evolving regulations. You can read more about vaccine eligibility at the State of New Jersey’s website.
Available appointments are limited because of scarce levels of vaccine supply. As allocations from the federal government increase, so too will the number of available vaccination appointments. Atlantic Health looks forward to welcoming community members to our vaccine clinics over the coming months and reaching the light at the end of the tunnel together.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of almost 17,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 11 counties and 4.9 million people. The system offers more than 400 sites of care, including seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, and Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ.
Atlantic Medical Group, comprised of 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, represents one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey and joins Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners as part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 16 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere’s Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across seven health systems in New Jersey.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.