
5 minute read
Shot of hope
Dr. Estrelitta Redmon, Chief Medical Officer at Ascension Medical Group at Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast, is vaccinated against COVID-19. Gabrielle Guard, BSN, RN, at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown, Nashville, Tennessee, shows off her vaccine card.

Across Ascension, vaccines show promise in fight against COVID-19
Samar El-Shorafa, RN, Ascension Macomb Hospital, Warren, Michigan, shares why receiving the vaccine is important to her. C aregivers across Ascension received the first COVID-19 vaccinations in late 2020, bringing a “shot of hope” to associates and communities.
The first COVID-19 vaccination in Ascension happened at 11:12 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2020, at Ascension Via Christi, in Wichita, Kansas. The recipient was Kristen Garrett, RN, a critical care nurse on the COVID-19 Medical Intensive Care Unit.
“I’m humbled to be the first caregiver at Ascension Via Christi and across Ascension to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” Kristen said. “I’m encouraging my colleagues to get the vaccination, and, once it’s available, the public as well. I’m thankful for my fellow caregivers and their selflessness in the dedicated patient care they deliver every day.”
Maggie Hagan, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, was the first Ascension physician to be vaccinated. “I feel like I didn’t just get a vaccine, I got a shot of hope,” she told the New York Times. “It’s hope that this is the beginning of the end of this terrible pandemic that we’ve all been experiencing — but us on the front line have really seen the suffering and the tragedy associated with it.” Since those first shots were administered, Ascension has provided more than 217,000 vaccine doses to associates and affiliated providers, and more than 130,000 doses to patients.

James Gruenewald, RN, Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Franklin Campus, receives a COVID-19 vaccine from Stephanie Fidlin, RN.

— JOSEPH CACCHIONE, MD, FACC, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CLINICAL & NETWORK SERVICES, ASCENSION
THOUGHTFUL PLANNING
When the first vaccines received emergency use authorization, Ascension implemented a coordinated plan for equitable internal and external allocation. Vaccine recipients have been prioritized based on recommendations guided by Ascension’s Mission, Vision and Values; Catholic Health Association guidance “Vaccine Equity and Catholic Principles for the Common Good”; guidance from state and federal entities; and available Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and evidence-based data on disease risk and burden.
From the outset, Ascension has encouraged all associates to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it is made available to them.
“In our view, this is the right thing to do to protect our associates and those we are privileged to serve,” said Joseph R. Impicciche, JD, MHA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension.
“We strongly encourage all our associates to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when they can,” said Joseph Cacchione, MD, FACC, Executive Vice President, Clinical & Network Services, Ascension. “We are thankful for all who have made this vaccine possible and for the continued dedication of our selfless caregivers.” MOM, DAUGHTER SHARE UNEXPECTED COVID-19 VACCINE MOMENT
Katie Reeves, RN, was a floor nurse at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, part of Ascension Texas, when COVID-19 spread across the community. As many of her fellow pediatric nurses answered the call to help out at COVID-19 units at other Ascension Texas sites, Katie had to withdraw from this eligible pool of floaters because she is severely immunocompromised. “I felt guilty that my co-workers were so altruistic to volunteer themselves to these units in need while I sat back,” she said.
Now an infusion nurse at Dell Children’s Medical Group Rheumatology clinic, she jumped at the chance to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, answering the call to serve along with more than 700 other associates who signed up to help.
“I felt empowered to help in some way, because it was safe for me to do so,” she said. “The vaccine represents hope. There was pure joy on so many staff member faces as they were getting vaccinated, so I think it means that to a lot of people.”
Before finishing her vaccine shift at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, she got a message from her mother, Regina Reeves, RN, a preadmission testing nurse at Ascension Seton Williamson. Regina was on her way to receive her first-dose vaccine, so Katie waited so she could administer the vaccine to her mother.
Receiving the vaccine from her daughter made it a moment Regina will never forget.
“As a mother, I’ve spent her whole life protecting her, and it means so much to me that she’s the one to give me the protection with this vaccine,“ Regina said.


Top: Pharmacy and Chaplain Services gather for a blessing of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas: from left, kneeling, Jade Nguyen, Kris Klein-Bradham and Kirsten Mason; crouching, Kim Schultz; standing, Ryan Ashworth, Lee Legault, Jade Evans, Dahlia Flores, Andrew Mullins, Carl Brotherman, Caroline Weaver, Tim Sullivan, Thomas Williams, the Rev. Athanasius Okeiyi, Amy Papst and Chad Dietrichs; and, to right of cart, Dipti Patel and Jeannette Chavez. Bottom: Tamarah Duperval-Brownlee, MD, MPH, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Community Impact Officer, Ascension, receives a COVID-19 vaccine.
ENGAGING ALL POPULATIONS
As vaccine supplies increased, Ascension sites of care followed state and local guidance on extending vaccinations to members of the public. A major focus was developing outreach to members of all communities, particularly minorities and marginalized communities.
“Working with our clinical and operational leaders, we developed comprehensive plans to leverage our position as a trusted community resource to share information about the vaccines, leading by example and educating the communities we serve,” said Nick Ragone, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ascension.
Specific outreach activities and messaging were developed to help reach members of the African American and Latino/Latina communities; various religious and nonreligious populations; LGBTQ individuals; people living in rural communities; senior citizens; and people who are developmentally disabled, homeless, or suffering from substance abuse or mental and behavioral health issues.
Tactics have included engaging thought leaders and influencers within specific communities; holding virtual community, town hall and prayer events; coordinating with community organizations and other health systems; using traditional marketing methods such as advertising; and more.
“Our goal has been to facilitate open, honest and comprehensive communication that doesn’t dismiss concerns or fears about the vaccine while providing honest and transparent answers to key questions,” Dr. Cacchione said. “We’ve been sharing information about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to build confidence in its safety and efficacy, highlighting how vaccination can save lives and strengthen communities.”