GANADO, AZ – Sage Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce that it received 205 COVID-19 vaccines from Indian Health Services to be made available to the Ganado service area community members. The Sage Memorial pharmacy was able to make available 273 vaccines that were administered on January 13th during a mass vaccination event at the Sage Wellness Center.
Sage Memorial Hospital is currently following the prioritization tiers of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices as well as the CDC and federal Indian Health Services. All vaccines administered during the mass vaccination event on January 13, 2021 were provided to elderly members of the community who are 65 years of age and older. The Sage Memorial Hospital Outpatient Clinic staff has also been contacting elderly patients 65 years of age and older, as well as essential and frontline workers informing them of availability and instructions for receiving a vaccine.
Christi El-Meligi, CEO of Sage Memorial Hospital stated, “The Hospital will continue to follow the prioritization guidelines as the community begins to receive the vaccine. Sage will be receiving an additional shipment of 200 vaccinations over the weekend and will hold another mass vaccination event on Tuesday, January 19th. The vaccines will be given to the categories listed on the phased priority flyer received from the Navajo Nation Department of Health and will be administered on a first come basis. We are hopeful that we will continue to receive additional vaccines in the coming weeks and months. Sage Memorial urges community members to continue to protect themselves and others by wearing masks and performing proper hand hygiene even after receiving the vaccination. We are relieved that we have the opportunity to administer the vaccine, especially to the frontline workers, as well as our most vulnerable members of the community.”
In order to receive the benefits of the vaccine, individuals must receive a second vaccination. Community members will receive information during their first visit regarding when they will need to return for the second vaccination. It is imperative that community members return for the second vaccination, since receiving the first vaccine will not protect them from contracting the Covid-19 virus.
Prior to having the vaccine available, Sage Memorial Hospital has and continues to provide the community with testing for the Covid-19 virus. The community can receive a test at Sage Memorial Hospital for the virus Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 12:00PM and 1:00PM to 5:00PM, excluding holidays.
Updates on vaccine availability and events will continue to be provided on the Sage Memorial Facebook page and also on KTNN as additional vaccines become available. Sage Memorial Hospitalcontinues to encourage the community to wear your masks, wash your hands, socially distance and stay home.
If you have questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, please call the Sage Memorial Hospital Outpatient Clinic at (928)755-4639.