HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—Emergency room patients are the latest focus in Hartford HealthCare's ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
Hartford HealthCare (HHC) President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks announced a pilot program in which patients in HHC emergency departments will be given the opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Every person who is in our emergency departments will be assessed and considered for receiving the vaccine if they are clinically appropriate and if they have not been vaccinated," Flaks said while at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain Thursday.
The patient's condition will be considered when the vaccine is offered as well as the healthcare system's current vaccine supply, according to HHC officials.
It is the latest effort to ensure there is a maximum amount of access to the vaccine for HHC patients, Flaks said.
The program follows a similar program that began late last week, Flaks said, when HHC began offering vaccinations to those who are being transitioned out of the hospital.
"Next week, we will begin vaccinating people, patients who are admitted to our behavioral health centers. They will be vaccinated upon entry and given that opportunity," Flaks said.
According to Flaks, the healthcare system continues to increase the number of vaccines delivered every day.
"Last Friday, we broke our single-day record. We administered 8,179 vaccines to people within our community," Flaks said.
HHC has administered over 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of Thursday.
The only limiting factor, he explained, is the supply allocated to HHC from the state and federal government.
"We are doing everything possible to ensure that people cannot and will not fall between the cracks and that no community and no person is left behind," Flaks said.