Redwood City Kaiser Permanente staff receive Covid19 vaccinations

Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and custodial staff were among the first health care workers at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City’s Medical Center to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

About 25 frontline care providers received the first doses of the vaccine on Thursday.

Dr. Vivek Rao, Chief of Neurology, was among those vaccinated.

“In a year filled with devastation and uncertainty, it was an honor and privilege to take this first step towards recovery,” he said. “I was impressed by Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to an organized and safe process...and the shot didn’t even hurt.”

After nine long months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaiser Permanente Northern California is vaccinating health care workers at each of our 21 medical centers following the criteria set forth by national and state public health officials.

Although the initial allocations are expected to be very limited, Kaiser Permanente is working to ensure an equitable distribution based on those health care workers in areas with highest risk for exposure. As supplies become more plentiful, more health care workers will be vaccinated, prioritized by their roles, patient-facing and employee-facing activities, and risk of exposure.

Even as the vaccine is beginning to be provided to people in our communities, it is still critical for everyone to keep using all available methods to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as the wearing of masks, appropriate physical distancing, and frequent hand washing. Kaiser Permanente is committed to educating our members, workforce, customers, and communities about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and to promote understanding of how a vaccine – coupled with continued public health measures– can help control and ultimately bring about the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.