State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras announced on Jan. 18 that SUNY’s three university hospital hubs have administered 100 percent of their weeks 1-4 COVID-19 vaccine allocations. Since receiving their first allotments on December 15, Downstate Health Sciences University, Stony Brook University Hospital, and Upstate University Hospital have administered more than 32,000 vaccine doses to frontline medical personnel and community members deemed eligible for vaccination by the New York State Department of Health. By efficiently distributing all of their available vaccine over the first four weeks, SUNY university hospitals continue to be among the highest performing distribution sites in the state.
Cumulative vaccine doses distributed since December 15:
- Downstate Health Sciences: 4,597
- Stony Brook University Hospital: 18,760
- Upstate University Hospital: 9,375
“Over the last four weeks, SUNY’s three university hospitals have proven that they can efficiently administer the vaccine to brave frontline medical personnel and eligible members of their surrounding communities,” said Chancellor Malatras. “Moving quickly to get people vaccinated is the key to winning the COVID-19 war and returning to normalcy. I am proud of our university hospitals and other facilities for successfully playing such a pivotal role in this massive operational undertaking.”
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University President Wayne J. Riley, M.D, said, “In a community where more than 90 percent of the lives lost to COVID-19 were black, we understand how important it is to get the vaccine to eligible community residents as quickly as possible. It is encouraging that a significant number of Downstate staff continue to get vaccinated which helps the community members be less apprehensive in their decisions. The vaccine is critical in moving beyond and conquering COVID-19.”
Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis said, “In the midst of this latest surge of COVID-19, our frontline workers at Stony Brook University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals have pushed forward to administer 100 percent of the vaccine allocation from New York State within the first four weeks. This is another fine example of our selfless healthcare workers’ successful efforts to protect the community. We will continue to support their stellar work at every level to ensure Stony Brook optimizes vaccine allocations in the coming weeks and months.”
SUNY Upstate University Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert Corona said, “I’d like to thank our incredible team for their relentless effort to get vaccines in arms. The mission was “no shots on the shelf” and they delivered by creating a mobile unit, extending hours from early morning into late evenings and including weekends to meet the people when and where they worked. The team also did an amazing job educating our population. A great advantage of a teaching hospital.”
SUNY’s hospitals have been at the forefront of caring for patients in some of the hardest hit locations, including SUNY Downstate Health Sciences, serving as a COVID-only hospital, and Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island during the first surge in cases last spring. Upstate Medical Infectious Disease Chief Dr. Stephen Thomas served as principal investigator for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which was approved last month.
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