Blanchfield Army Community Hospital nurses and medics begin administering Fort Campbell’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to frontline military and civilian healthcare workers after receiving the vaccine.
BACH now joins other Defense Health Agency military treatment facilities that have received the vaccine, marking the start of a phased-in vaccination program to mitigate the spread of the virus.
“It is early in the COVID-19 vaccination program, so there is currently a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine. Our vaccination distribution prioritization will be consistent with the Department of Defense and the data-driven CDC guidance for national prioritization,” said Army Col. Patrick Birchfield, BACH hospital commander.
Under the CDC guidelines, military and civilian healthcare workers and support personnel at BACH directly involved in the hospital’s COVID response and who are at the greatest risk of contracting the virus will be vaccinated first. Vaccines authorized for emergency use are offered on a voluntary basis.
“It is critically important we offer our team members and Fort Campbell first responders vaccinations first because we need them in the fight. If our healthcare workers and first responders contract the virus or miss work due to an exposure and are required to quarantine, it reduces the number of medical and emergency professionals we have to serve our community. This is especially difficult at a time when healthcare facilities are under greater demand,” said Birchfield.
Blanchfield registered nurse Ryan Diehl, who works in the emergency center was among the first frontline healthcare workers at the hospital to receive the vaccine.
“Being in the EC we may be exposed to COVID patients or COVID-like [symptoms] patients every single day,” said Diehl. “We all go home to our families and small children so if you don’t get [vaccinated] for yourself, get it done for your family. I’m proud to have it.”