Wyckoff's Christian Health Care Center Receives COVID Vaccines

WYCKOFF, NJ — "Hundreds" of Christian Health Care Center residents and staff members received the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Wednesday, according to officials.

Residents of Heritage Manor Nursing Home and Southgate were the first to receive the vaccine, which was administered by Walgreens pharmacists. Pharmacists licensed to administer the vaccine also visited long-term care resident rooms across CHCC’s Wyckoff campus, officials said.

In addition to the first doses being administered, CHCC leadership urged anyone eligible to receive the vaccine.

"Through CHCC’s heightened safety and cautionary analysis, our internal experts and medical staff have and continue to carefully evaluate all recommendations. As physician leaders, we are confident in the vaccine and encourage all those who are able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to do so," said CHCC medical staff members Allen M. Khademi, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Aijaz Nanjiani, MD, CHCC Medical Staff President.

"I feel confident in the extensive research and testing that was done by leading experts around the globe for the creation of the COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the thorough examination conducted by the FDA panel and independent advisors to approve the vaccines," said Douglas A. Struyk, CPA, LNHA, CHCC President and CEO.

"CHCC remains fully committed to the protection of our residents, patients, and our dedicated frontline health-care workers. My priority is to ensure they are vaccinated and safe first, and as soon as they received their vaccine, I was next in line to get it as well. Everyone holds a responsibility to make an informed decision about what they feel comfortable doing regarding the vaccine, but I, along with my top medical professionals, are encouraging all to receive this important vaccine."

According to CHCC officials, CVS will manage vaccine distribution for residents and staff of The Longview Assisted Living residence on Jan. 27.

As of noon Friday, there is only one positive coronavirus case within the CHCC network, according to officials, after the Heritage Manor Nursing Home recently admitted a COVID-19 positive patient.