Photo By Jerome Mapp | A medic assigned to Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg vaccinates retired...... read more read more
WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Fort Bragg, N.C. – When the Medical Center rolled out the first wave of COVID-19 vaccines—Phase 1A—in December 2020 to healthcare providers, first responders, and personnel preparing to deploy outside the continental United States, it was an ongoing united effort to ensure that they receive their first and eventual second doses of the vaccine as frontline fighters in the war against this raging pandemic.
One of the healthcare providers--Roni Paul, an emergency room nurse and nurse educator -- became the first one at the Medical Center to receive the vaccine. He was the first among hundreds here who pored over the COVID-19 vaccination information, rolled up their sleeves, and took the first of two vaccinations of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
In between the vaccinations, Medical Center officials provide a steady stream of updated information to educate the Soldiers, healthcare providers, first responders, and enrolled beneficiaries on COVID-19, while separating fact from fiction regarding the vaccine. Some of the information they receive, such as the vaccination is administered as a two-dose series, 21 to 28 days apart, into the muscle. Officials urge those seeking information about the vaccination dates to consult the Medical Center’s Website and the Womack Facebook page.
During the January 14 and 15 drive-thru vaccinations in the All-American parking lot, Medical Center staff vaccinated enrolled beneficiaries in the 75 years and older category. After Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Alphonso Simmons was vaccinated, he reported that the entire process—from the initial check-in to the actual vaccination—took less time than he imagined and was well coordinated.
“I didn’t anticipate any problems. It was a well-coordinated process,” he said.
Others, such as retired CW2 Clyde Banitt and his wife Sarah, were pleased with the coordinated set-up at the parking lot and praised the healthcare providers and staff who worked the drive-thru detail.
“We are pleased that we are able to get the vaccinations in a timely manner. Especially when there are long lines in other places,” Banitt said, as his wife nodded her approval.
When the vaccine initially arrives at the Medical Center, the distribution management team stores it in an ultra-cold secure facility, where officials say it can remain for up to six months at -80 degrees. The first round of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine arrived at Womack in December 2020.
Medical Center officials are urging those not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to seek guidance from primary care physicians, public health officials, or make appointments at the drive-thru testing site instead of reporting to the Womack Army Medical Center Urgent Care Clinic.
“This is an effort to minimize your exposure to an environment that is seeing symptomatic patients,” according to officials.
The urgent care clinic at Womack Army Medical Center is now open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for testing and treating patients that have symptoms of COVID-19. The WAMC Urgent Care Clinic is a walk-in clinic only. Patients that walk in will receive a mask and undergo COVID-19 medical treatment. On weekends, patients with COVID-19 symptoms should go to the emergency room. Please use the All American Expressway entrance to access the medical center.
Asymptomatic patients with possible exposure can call 910- 907-2778 to schedule a virtual appointment with a provider to discuss COVID-19 drive-thru testing options. Asymptomatic patients who are preparing to deploy, returning from deployment, training, or have occupation requirements can call 910-907-1011 to schedule drive-thru testing appointments. The drive-thru testing site is at Womack Army Medical Center near the emergency department. Testing is available Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. Appointments will be available on the hour, every hour beginning at 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. except from noon to 1:00 p.m. for a lunch break.
Patients that may have other non-COVID-19 medical issues, please call the appointment line at 910-907-2778 and request a virtual appointment.
Patients may also access a healthcare advice nurse, 24/7 by calling 1-800-TRICARE, option 1.
| Date Taken: | 02.03.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2021 12:53 |
| Story ID: | 388255 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 186 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic, One Vaccination at a Time, by Jerome Mapp, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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