Hot Springs, SD — Community spread continues to improve in Fall River County. Fall RiverHealth Services continues to remain ready to confront the COVID-19 virus, meet the healthcare needs of our patients, andprotect our communities from the spread of the disease. FRHS has received a limited supply of Moderna COVID-19vaccine. These doses are being offered to Phase 1A and 1C employees at FRHS, Pine Hills, and SVH, with priority given to the 1A employees. Weekly supplies of vaccine are being anticipated, and FRHS will be working to provide vaccinations to other Phase 1C individuals in the community, but likely not until mid- January.
The State Department of Health (DOH) is in charge of determining when other groups will be offered the vaccine and when FRHS will be able to provide it to the public (Phase 1D.) We recommend those who are identified as Phase 1D continue to pay attention to communications from the Department of Health and Fall River Health Services for more information as it becomes available.
Today, FRHS provided the first Moderna dose of vaccine to FRHS frontline employees and the State Veterans Home employees. FRHS, JoAnn Norton, RN, stated, “I am a firm believer in vaccines, and I practice what I preach. I want to see an end to COVID, and this is the beginning to the end.” Michelle Gross, RN, from the State Veterans Home, received her dose of Moderna. “I was very anxious to receive the vaccine. I want to do my part in putting this pandemic to an end and this gives me comfort that we are getting that done.”
While FRHS is excited to provide the Moderna vaccine, FRHS also has Remdesivir and Bamlanivumab available for their community. Remdesivir is an anti-viral medication that may be given to patients who require hospitalization for COVID19; Bamlanivumab is a monoclonal antibody that ‘neutralizes’ the virus and may be given early in the disease process. Studies have shown when Bamlanivumab is given w/in 10 days of COVID symptoms, ER visits and hospitalizations are decreased.
As you plan your holiday visits and travel, FRHS encourages everyone to continue to take COVID precautions to stay safe and healthy. FRHS reminds their community of their curbside COVID testing and provides information on the Free at-home COVID-19 testing at www.frhssd.org/covid.
