Paris, Tenn.–In a very busy rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, Henry County Medical Center distributed all of its vaccine in one day.
At a press conference held at the hospital Tuesday afternoon, Hospitalist Dr. Amanda Finley said healthcare workers were administering about two vaccines per minute.
HCMC Public Relations Director Tory Daughrity said all 765 doses of the vaccine were given out Tuesday. “We administered 765 doses in five hours,” she said.
The drive-thru clinic had been scheduled to last from today through Friday, but with no more vaccine, the rest of the week’s rollout is cancelled.
People started lining up in their cars two hours before the drive-thru was to begin and lines of cars stretched all the way from the hospital and to the NAPA store and beyond on Mineral Wells Ave.
Director of Pharmacy Paula Bell said most everyone was complimentary of the efficiency of hospital staff and volunteers.
Hospital CEO Lisa Casteel said another round of vaccines will be administered to school staff members (both Henry County Schools and Paris Special Schools staff) on Wednesday.
Casteel also said the hospital is currently at capacity with patients; in large part, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said the hospital’s 70 beds are filled with patients with some held in reserve for emergency or maturity care. Of the 70 beds, 46 are reserved for medical/surgical and critical care patients. The hospital has six ventilators with two more on backorder since April or May 2020.
Photo: At today’s press conference, from left: Marketing Rep Steve Parker, Director of Pharmacy Paula Bell, CEO Lisa Casteel, and Dr. Amanda Finley. (Joel Washburn photo).