LI Community Hospital Frontline Workers Receive Vaccine

PATCHOGUE, NY — Frontline workers at Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue got their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

Earlier this month, the first COVID-19 vaccine in New York was administered in Queens to a critical care nurse, live on television. Since then, more hospital and frontline workers received the first of the 26,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine sent to Long Island this month.

Nursing home residents and staffs are the next group of residents who will be eligible, after the doctors, nurses, custodial staff, respiratory therapists, and others working directly with COVID-19 patients.

At the local hospital, the frontline workers received their first round of the vaccine, which will continue to be distributed throughout the week.

Photo credit: Long Island Community Hospital

"We have our first round of vaccines in the hospital. We are one step closer to protecting all of our Courageous Hearts from COVID-19," Richard Margulis, president and CEO of the hospital wrote in a message to employees. "I have imagined and wished for a time when the fear I see in all of our employees eyes, as they keep fighting for our patients, completely disappears. Starting the vaccination process brings that dream into reality."

Some of the intensive care and emergency department staff were among the first to receive the vaccine. Margulis stated that the hospital is ready to accept future shipments and vaccinate the community when the time comes.

"Let’s celebrate each one as a wave of relief for those so deserving of some respite," he wrote. "Our doctors have not only put their shot-arms forward but have also been helping to educate everyone on the benefits of the vaccine. Earlier in the year, we saw a rainbow as we started to be able to discharge more of our patients. This feels like another rainbow to me."

Photo credit: Long Island Community Hospital

Photo credit: Long Island Community Hospital