Less than a month into 2021, we have seen how things can – and continue to-- quickly evolve regarding COVID-19.
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There has been an overwhelming response to COVID-19 vaccinations across the country from eligible members of the community, and vaccine supply is incredibly limited. Unfortunately, Inspira Health – like many other hospitals in the country – currently finds itself with more appointments than vaccines. To honor those appointments, it is necessary for us to reschedule first dose appointments and fulfill our existing appointments for second doses.
Effective this Saturday, January 23, Inspira is rescheduling all confirmed appointments for first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at our hospital distribution sites in Mullica Hill and Vineland; those appointments will be rescheduled once we receive additional supply of the vaccine. Inspira will reach out to patients directly to be rescheduled in the chronological order in which they were originally scheduled, beginning January 23. In addition, we have recommended registering through the NJVSS should they have appointment availability prior to Inspira.
For those who already received their first dose from Inspira prior to Saturday, January 23, second doses will still be administered by Inspira.
Below please find FAQs for reference.
We truly regret the distress and frustration that this news brings to our community. Be assured that Inspira will notify everyone as soon as we can guarantee that we have enough supply to provide both first and second doses at our vaccine distribution centers.
What is the current landscape on vaccinations?
There has been an overwhelming response to COVID-19 vaccinations across the country from eligible members of the community, and vaccine supply is incredibly limited. Unfortunately, Inspira Health – like many other hospitals in the country – currently finds itself with more appointments than vaccines. To honor those appointments, it is necessary for us to reschedule first dose appointments and fulfill our existing appointments for second doses.
Effective this Saturday, January 23, Inspira is rescheduling all confirmed appointments for first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at our hospital distribution sites in Mullica Hill and Vineland; those appointments will be rescheduled once we receive additional supply of the vaccine. Inspira will reach out to patients directly to be rescheduled in the chronological order in which they were originally scheduled, beginning January 23. In addition, we have recommended registering through the NJVSS should they have appointment availability prior to Inspira.
Why is my appointment getting rescheduled?
There has been an overwhelming response to COVID-19 vaccinations across the country from eligible members of the community, and vaccine supply is incredibly limited. Unfortunately, Inspira Health – like many other hospitals in the country – currently finds itself with more appointments than vaccines. To honor those appointments, it is necessary for us to reschedule first dose appointments and fulfill our existing appointments for second doses.
We truly regret the distress and frustration that this news brings to our community. Be assured that Inspira will notify everyone as soon as we can guarantee that we have enough supply to provide both first and second doses at our vaccine distribution centers.
When will my appointment be rescheduled?
Inspira will be working closely with all partners to obtain information on vaccine supply. Be assured that Inspira will notify everyone as soon as we can guarantee that we have enough supply to provide both first and second doses at our vaccine distribution centers. We have also recommended registering on the NJVSS website as well, should they have appointment availability prior to Inspira.
Is there another place I can get a vaccine outside of Inspira?
We have recommended registering on the NJVSS website as well, should they have appointment availability prior to Inspira. Otherwise, be assured that Inspira will notify everyone as soon as we can guarantee that we have enough supply to provide both first and second doses at our vaccine distribution centers. We will reach out to patients directly to be rescheduled in the chronological order in which they were originally scheduled, beginning January 23.
You can register to receive a vaccine on the State of Jersey website.
There is no cost to receive the vaccine. There is an administration fee which will be charged to your insurance. There is no out-of-pocket expense to you.
Please continue these tried and true safety measures: wear a mask; wash your hands; maintain social distancing; and get vaccinated once available.
While we encourage our community to stay home when you can and continue to take proactive safety measures, please don’t hesitate to seek medical care if you need it. We’re committed to being here for you, whether virtually or in person, to ensure your health, and the health of our community.
Sign up to get the latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine, plus get notified about your options to receive the vaccine from Inspira when the time comes.
Vaccines currently prevent millions of deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles and influenza. Vaccines work by training and preparing the body’s natural defenses to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target. If the body is exposed to those disease-causing germs later, the body is immediately ready to destroy them, preventing illness. Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious-disease outbreaks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health institute in the United States under the Department of Health and Human Services. The CDC’s overall responsibility is to address health and safety.
The CDC is focused on vaccine planning, working closely with health departments and partners to prepare for when a vaccine is available, but they do not have a role in developing COVID-19 vaccines. Learn more about the vaccine planning process by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/8-things.html.
There are five COVID-19 vaccines currently in Phase 3 trials. Two of the five vaccines are complete and pending Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approval for their respective Emergency Use authorization (EUA).
On Friday, December 11, the FDA authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
In this unprecedented pandemic, vaccine development is time-dependent, and so scientists and funding have come together to move vaccine candidates through the process for preclinical and clinical assessment, including animal and human trials, under the federal government operation known as Operation Warp Speed, which is a partnership among components of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense to help develop, make, and distribute millions of vaccine doses for COVID-19 as quickly as possible while ensuring that the vaccines are safe and that they work.
This has enabled researchers to advance into phase 3 clinical trials (testing the vaccine on large groups of people to evaluate safety and effectiveness) in six months instead of the typical two years. It is important to note that the scientists are working both quickly and thoughtfully.
COVID-19 can be a minor illness in some or lead to severe disease or even death in previously healthy people. Many treatments and medications are being studied, but there is no cure currently. Prevention is key. Public health officials and medical experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
The FDA guidance expects that an authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine would prevent disease or decrease its severity in at least 50 percent of people who are vaccinated. In some cases, COVID-19 vaccines may protect against severe infection, but not necessarily prevent mild or asymptomatic infection. If this is the case, an infected person could still spread the virus. This is why it is expected that even after a vaccine becomes available, people will need to use masks and practice social distancing measures for some time.
Both the Pfizer (21 days apart) and Moderna (28 days apart) vaccine candidates that are pending emergency use authorization require two shots. Other vaccines in clinical trials require two or one shots. Both shots will need to be from the same vaccine (i.e., 2 shots of Pfizer).
A live virus vaccine uses a weakened form of the germ that causes a disease. The vaccines that are expected to be the first to receive EUA from the FDA, do not contain live virus. For information about vaccine types visit: vacines.gov/basics/types.
The mRNA would not change a person’s DNS. An mRNA vaccine causes cells to make viral proteins, in this case it is making proteins found in the SARS-CoV-2 virus which is the virus that causes COVID-19. When the proteins are made, they are released from the cell and cells from the immune system recognize them as foreign and attack them, creating an immune response. Since mRNA is active only in a cell’s cytoplasm and DNA is located in the nucleus, mRNA vaccines do not operate in the same part of the cell where DNA is located.
Information on how to volunteer for a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial is available on the National Institute of Health website, https://www.niaid.nih.gov/clinical-trials/covid-19-clinical-trials.
The New Jersey Department of Health collaborated with health care partners and immunization stakeholders to submit a vaccine plan to the CDC in mid-October. This plan encompasses suggested priority groups for vaccination, logistics of vaccine storage and handling, health care provider recruitment, tracking and reporting of immunizations, etc.
The state is closely following progress on COVID-19 vaccine trials and potential FDA authorized or approved vaccine(s). The NJDOH will provide guidance to hospitals and health care providers regarding the allocation and administration of vaccine in NJ.
New Jersey will receive an allocation of vaccine from the federal government. While we are still learning details from federal and state health agencies about the supply, distribution and administration schedule for the vaccines, we do know that New Jersey is expected to receive an initial supply of at least 140,000 doses of vaccine by mid-December. When the vaccine(s) is available, it will be distributed in a manner that is fair, ethical, transparent and timely for New Jerseyans.
Emergency Use Authorization is the legal authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize emergency use of an investigational medical product or an unapproved use of an approved medical product to diagnose, treat, or prevent a serious or life-threatening disease. According to the FDA, an EUA is used "to help make medical products available as quickly as possible by allowing unapproved medical products to reach patients in need when there are no adequate, FDA-approved and available alternatives."
When the FDA authorizes emergency use of a medical product, an EUA Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers (in place of a package insert typical of a licensed vaccine) and an EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients (akin to product information for patients or a CDC-provided VIS for a licensed vaccine) must be provided to the health care providers prescribing and/or administering the authorized medical product. The health care providers, in turn, provide the EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients to vaccine recipients or their guardians.
When FDA authorizes a vaccine for use under an EUA, providers and public health entities involved in vaccine administration are legally required to provide the FDA-authorized EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients to individuals receiving vaccine or their guardians, similar to VIS’s that are also required by law for certain licensed vaccines. The EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients, like the VIS, explains the benefits and risks associated with the vaccine. But unlike a VIS, the EUA fact sheet also provides vaccine product-specific information, including the vaccine’s authorized use, dose/dose-series, and known information or experience with the vaccine from clinical trials that support issuance of the EUA by FDA.
Providers can provide the EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients (or VIS if/when the COVID-19 vaccine is licensed) in a variety of ways, including hard copy, online, video, or other electronic means of dissemination.
The FDA applies the same stringent review process to all vaccines regardless of manufacturer. FDA approval or authorization of a vaccine means that the agency has determined, based on substantial evidence and a stringent review process, the vaccine is safe and effective for its intended use. Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines – the first two vaccines that are likely to receive EUA – have both been shown to be at least 94 percent effective and they have the same mechanism of action.
The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top priority. Vaccine makers continue to follow strict protocols for monitoring the safety and efficiency of the vaccines, as well as any side effects that vaccine recipients experienced during the clinical trial phase. They have been transparent with the data which shows these vaccines are highly effective in protecting against COVID-19.
Most vaccines only need to reach 50% efficacy for FDA approval. After two doses, the Pfizer vaccine has an efficacy rate of 95% with no serious safety concerns based on clinical trials with more than 43,000 people. The Moderna vaccine has an efficacy rate of 94% with no serious safety concerns. The efficacy rate means that there was at least a 94% reduction in contracting COVID-19 for the clinical trial participants who received the vaccine versus those who received a placebo.
For detailed information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html.
As with other vaccines, some people experience side effects consistent with immune responses. It is normal to have some arm soreness at the injection site and some people experience additional side effects such as fatigue, fever, muscle pain, chills, or headache. Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen (if it is safe for you to do so) before you get the vaccine may help to alleviate the side effects, which typically go away within a day or less. What remains is protection against COVID-19.
Additional data will determine how long that protection lasts and whether an annual vaccination will be required. But the evidence is clear that the risks from contracting COVID are greater than the possible risks from receiving the vaccine.
If you are not feeling well, it is recommended that you wait until you are feeling better to get the vaccine.
In early clinical trials for various COVID-19 vaccines, only non-pregnant adults participated. For this reason, the vaccine will not be available for use in pregnant women when it first becomes available. However, clinical trials continue to expand those recruited to participate. Based on data from the expanded clinical trials, groups recommended to receive the vaccines could change in the future.
In early clinical trials for various COVID-19 vaccines, only non-pregnant adults participated. For this reason, the vaccine will not be available for use in children when it first becomes available. The groups recommended to receive the vaccines could change in the future.
The CDC and the N.J. Department of Health have determined that healthcare workers will be prioritized to receive the initial supplies of the vaccine, in recognition of their essential service of caring for our communities and the risks of exposure they may encounter on the job or in the community. They are considered the “1(a)” priority group. The general phased approach developed by the State of New Jersey, working with healthcare providers and other groups, also includes:
The Department is developing plans to distribute vaccines in a fair, ethical, and transparent way and relying on guidance from federal agencies.
We expect healthcare workers will begin receiving the vaccine as soon as the first supplies arrive in New Jersey in December. The rest of the timeline will depend on the availability of supplies, but vaccination activities will increase statewide over the first quarter of 2021.
Effective Monday, Jan 18, the following groups are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine at Inspira’s Vineland and Mullica Hill sites:
New Jersey is expected to receive an initial supply of at least 140,000 doses of vaccine the week of December 14th, within 24-48 hours after the FDA grants this EUA. Currently, Inspira Health is anticipated to start vaccinating by Thursday December 17th.
The CDC and the N.J. Department of Health have determined that healthcare workers will be prioritized to receive the initial supplies of the vaccine. They are considered the “1(a)” priority group. All Inspira employees and physicians eligible within each priority group will be able to receive the vaccine.
We have sub-prioritized 1a populations by their risk of COVID exposure:
Physicians would be sub prioritized by those coming into the hospitals.
Inspira is slated to receive around 5,850 doses between Mullica Hill, Vineland and Elmer.
Given our ultra-cold freezer capability, Inspira will be receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
No. At this time, it is optional. Once we finalize distribution criteria, we encourage those who are eligible to get the vaccine. Other protective measures to stop the spread of the virus will remain in place while at work such as wearing a mask and approved eye protection, practicing appropriate hand hygiene, and physically distancing (at least 6 feet away from each other). These measures should be observed at home as well.
Appointments will be required to receive the vaccine and those being vaccinated will be required to observe their scheduled appointment.
Inspira is preparing to initiate COVID vaccination using the Pfizer vaccine as soon as it is received. To begin this process, all staff and providers wishing to be vaccinated must preregister using this link. The preregistration process will capture key information and provide you with the opportunity to review and sign a vaccination consent form. Once you are preregistered, a member of the Employee Health COVID vaccination scheduling team will contact you directly to schedule your appointment. Those who preregister for the vaccination will be scheduled to receive the vaccine at either the Mullica Hill or Vineland vaccination site, and upon completion of vaccination dose #1 you will be scheduled for vaccination dose #2 within 21 days.
You will need to bring your mobile phone; your employee ID; a government ID; and your insurance card. You will also need to wear a mask consistent with our current protective measures.
You will arrive at the scheduled clinic site, check-in to confirm your employee registration form, then you will receive the COVID-19 vaccine. You will be monitored for 15 minutes on-site after receipt of the vaccine and will then be able to schedule the 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose for 21 days later. After the appointment, you will be provided with a COVID-19 vaccination card and vaccine EUA fact sheet. The appointment will take approximately 30 minutes, including the 15-minute observation period.
Employees and providers will not be required to pay for the vaccine.
We are planning to vaccinate no more than 5 people per unit at one time every 48 hours. It is important to adhere to this limitation in the event vaccination leads to employee’s being ill and out of work for any period of time.
Yes. Vaccines may boost your immune system so it is ready to fight the virus if you are exposed, but it is not yet fully understood whether vaccinated people might still be able to transmit the virus. Initially, we will not have enough vaccine globally to vaccinate everyone who wants the vaccine, and the virus will still be transmitted in the environment.
Yes, your choice to get the vaccine is a personal one and does not impact how you are expected to behave with regard to our COVID-19 policies.
Receiving the vaccine will have no effect on your work assignments.
All are welcomed to direct questions to our COVID vaccine email: COVIDvax@ihn.org.
Inspira Health will follow the state’s and CDC’s recommendations for prioritization of vaccine administration for our patients, which will be based on vaccine supply and other factors.
Effective Monday, Jan 18, the following groups are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine at Inspira’s Vineland and Mullica Hill sites:
We have not received any further guidance from NJDOH on advancing to other phases just yet. We are in conversation with them as they plan to move forward with vaccinations and how we can assist them in that process.
Healthcare workers are being vaccinated by health care facilities to insure vaccine availability and all necessary tracking and documentation. Pharmacy chains such as CVS and Walgreens will be working with the Long Term Care providers to provide vaccinations to staff and residents of those facilities. It is unknown just yet when vaccines will be available to pharmacies for the general public.
No, at this time, we will only be receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Yes, at least one vaccine (Pfizer) requires ultra-cold storage conditions and Inspira has purchased two freezers capable of storing vaccine down to -80 degrees Celsius. The CDC is working on ways to support ultra-cold chain vaccine storage and handling needs. Information will be shared once it becomes available.
There will be numerous vaccination sites when the state begins vaccinating the general population in 2021, including hospitals, local health departments, federally qualified health centers and others.
There will be a couple different tracks for distributing the vaccine. The states are leading distribution plans for frontline hospital workers. The federal government is working with CVS and Walgreens for vaccination of long term care workers.
No, informed consent is not a federal requirement. An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) vaccine recipient fact sheet will be available online, and providers are required to provide those to vaccine recipients prior to vaccine administration.
Clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines did not include testing safety of getting the flu vaccine on the same day. Once COVID-19 vaccine(s) are authorized or approved by FDA, CDC will provide administration guidance. Inspira employees and providers should have already received their influenza vaccination for this flu season.
No, the COVID-19 vaccine does not take the place of the pneumonia vaccine or the flu vaccine. It is a good idea to be up to date on pneumonia and flu vaccines in addition to COVID-19.
Staff will be wearing a procedure mask, face and eye protection, gown and gloves. The staff will also perform hand hygiene before and after administering the vaccine. This is the PPE recommended by the CDC and additional guidance will be provided as needed when COVID-19 vaccine is available.
For information on PPE for health care workers, see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/using-ppe.html.
It usually takes about one to two weeks for immunity to develop following vaccination, but the specific timeline for any coronavirus vaccine will depend to some extent on which type of vaccine it is.
Yes, you should still be vaccinated. There is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again; this is called natural immunity. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this. Until we have a vaccine available and know more about natural immunity to COVID-19, the CDC cannot comment on whether people who had COVID-19 should get a COVID-19 vaccine. Once a vaccine has been authorized or approved, ACIP will make recommendations to CDC on who should get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS), operating since 1997, is the statewide immunization information system (IIS) serving as the official repository of immunizations administered to individuals in the state of New Jersey. NJIIS is a free, confidential, population-based online system that collects and consolidates immunization information to provide an accurate immunization assessment for individuals in the state of New Jersey, as well as assists communities in assessing their immunization coverage and identifying pockets of need. For more information on NJIIS, please visit https://njiis.nj.gov/core/web/index.html#/home.
If you are NOT an NJIIS user or facility, you will be required to register with NJIIS by completing the COVID-19 Facility Preregistration Enrollment Form https://njiis.nj.gov/covid/web/index.html#/newFacilityEnrollment.
If you are a currently an active NJIIS provider, you do not need to complete the COVID-19 Preregistration Enrollment Form. The Program will message out instructions once COVID-19 vaccines ordering and training is available.
Yes, the CDC’s provider agreement form will need to be completed in order for a provider to order the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment is available for sites currently registered in NJIIS. Providers interested in participating in the COVID-19 vaccination program should complete the CDC COVID-19 Provider Agreement that is available electronically through NJIIS. When you log into NJIIS, the COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment will be on the landing page.
To assist sites with completing the enrollment and to have technical assistance questions answered, the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program will hold weekly office hours. You can register for office hours on the NJIIS COVID-19 enrollment page, https://njiis.nj.gov/core/web/index.html#/newFacilityEnrollment.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed by the federal government at no cost to enrolled COVID-19 vaccination providers. More information will be shared as soon as it is available.
Yes, providers can bill for an office visit when administering COVID-19 vaccine if the visit meets the criteria for office visit coding under a recipient’s plan.
Yes, vaccine providers will be able to charge an administration fee. However, participating vaccine providers must administer COVID-19 vaccine regardless of the vaccine recipient’s ability to pay COVID-19 vaccine administration fees or coverage status, as stated in the CDC Provider Agreement. Vaccine providers may seek appropriate reimbursement from a program or plan that covers COVID-19 vaccine administration fees for the vaccine recipient. For uninsured patients, the vaccine provider can seek reimbursement for an administration fee from the HRSA Provider Relief Fund.
Data may be entered manually. Once a staff member has completed the COVID-19 training, they will be able to log into NJIIS, with their username and password, to manually enter COVID-19 doses into NJIIS. If you have an Electronic Health Record (EHR) and wish to establish an interface with NJIIS, please complete the Interface Enrollment Request Form. NJIIS can receive immunization data directly from a provider’s office EHR system via HL7 version 2.5.1 standard messaging protocol. The time it takes to establish an interface will vary based on issues with data submissions, errors in formatting of the messages.
Yes. Funds from 317 and PPHF would be the easiest funds to use. Awardees may also reach out to Preparedness and/or Strategic National Stockpile to determine if funds/equipment are available through alternative channels.
These fact sheets contain information to help you understand the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 Vaccines being offered.
The CDC answers common medical questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Get vaccinated. Get your smartphone. Get started with v-safe.
Less than a month into 2021, we have seen how things can – and continue to-- quickly evolve regarding COVID-19.
Read MoreInspira’s experts hosted a Virtual Town Hall to provide the community with accurate information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The rollout of the vaccine is evolving rapidly, and Inspira is committed to providing information as it becomes available.
Read MoreWhile COVID-19 cases still continuing to increase at alarming rates, Inspira has joined forces with hosts of other organizations to provide vaccines to members of our community.
Read MoreThe material set forth in this site in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness or to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Please speak with your health care provider if you have a health concern or if you are considering adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. For permission to reprint any portion of this website or to be removed from a notification list, please contact us at (856) 537-6772