Mercyhealth to reschedule vaccine appointments due to zero shipment

JANESVILLE, Wisconsin (February 10, 2021)— Mercyhealth is committed to helping vaccinate our communities against COVID-19, which is designed to prevent the COVID-19 virus, and is the best hope for ending the pandemic. The Federal government provides all COVID-19 supply with allocations to each state, which is very limited.

The state process includes hospitals making weekly requests for vaccine (Mercyhealth requests approx. 2,000 doses each week) and the state allocating and shipping the COVID-19 vaccine each week. Unfortunately, this week, like many other hospitals, Mercyhealth received zero first-dose COVID-19 vaccine for Rock County patients. Today, Mercyhealth contacted 650 patients (via MyChart, calls and text) who had planned vaccination appointments for tomorrow, Thursday, February 11, to reschedule. We will reach out to these patients for priority rescheduling when we receive adequate shipment of vaccine.

“We are eager and ready to provide vaccine when we receive supply from the state,” said Don Janczak, Director of Pharmacy at Mercyhealth. “We are hopeful supply will increase in the near future.”

The vaccination site at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center-Janesville has administered over 12,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses since December 22, 2020. These are both first and second Pfizer doses. Every day and week brings different vaccine totals and administration depends on the amount we receive from the state.

To keep our phone lines open for patients with urgent health care needs, we ask eligible patients not call to reschedule or ask when invitations are being sent. Mercyhealth will contact patients who are eligible for priority rescheduling when it has received adequate shipment of vaccine.

As we all wait for vaccine, it is critical that everyone take steps to stay healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. You can help us stop the spread and reduce pressure on hospitals by wearing a mask, not gathering with people outside your household, avoiding contact with people who are sick, staying six feet from others, avoiding crowds, practicing good hand hygiene, and staying at home if you have symptoms.

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/covid19vaccines/.