Brevard's community healthcare system has a plan in place to immunize frontline providers and associates who want to be inoculated. It's important we protect those who care for you, so we can all do our part.

With news of a coronavirus vaccine being distributed, Health First is preparing for swift administration of immunizations when the Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) acquires a supply.

Brevard's community healthcare system could receive a vaccine supply as early as next week and Health First is ready.

"We care not only about the health of the patients and community we serve but all of our associates, many of whom have been working tirelessly to care for our friends, families, and neighbors during this public health crisis," said Dr. Jeffrey Stalnaker, Chief Clinical Officer for Health First. "We will be following recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), which prioritize offering immunizations to providers and associates who are on the front lines and most at risk for contracting and becoming ill from COVID-19. Having them inoculated will help protect all they care for and work alongside."

Once Health First receives doses of the coronavirus vaccine, those who have been identified as falling under that umbrella will be offered the opportunity to register to be vaccinated. No associate will be mandated to be immunized - this is strictly optional.

As the IDN receives additional vaccines and the first tier of associates who opt to be vaccinated are, immunizations will be offered to other, lower-risk associates who are interested, as supplies last. When the IDN is allowed to offer vaccinations to the public, Health First will quickly inform the community and begin that process. For now, we don't know when that will be.

Those who receive a vaccine will be asked to register for their second dose either 21 or 28 days after the first, depending on the particular vaccine they have been given.

Health First will be enforcing COVID-19 safety precautions throughout this vaccination process, including masking, social distancing, and a select number of recipients reporting to their designated site. The IDN has been putting into place resources outside of our normal process to ensure we have the staffing and capacity to administer immunizations quickly, efficiently, and safely.

We know how important herd immunity is in the COVID-19 fight. Our first step is making sure those who care for you are protected, so they have further safeguards in place to continue to be well - and keep you, our community, well.