I, Mark Wallace, want to share some exciting news with you. After months of diligent work by our COVID Vaccine Task Force and our hospital leadership, we have received confirmation that Texas Children’s is pre-positioned to receive a shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine next week, which has been produced and tested by Pfizer, and submitted for emergency use approval by the Food & Drug Administration.
This is a tremendous development in the fight against this pandemic. I can think of no greater challenge we have had to overcome together, and I can think of no better news to hear than that Texas Children’s will be given such a vital tool in combating this highly infectious disease.
There are many vaccines on the horizon – Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and our own Center for Vaccine Development – but nothing prevents us from following appropriate safety guidelines. Please ensure you and all those around you – both at home and at work – wear a mask properly and over the nose, maintain social distancing at a minimum of 6 feet and practice hand hygiene throughout the day. For on-site meetings, please be sure to adhere to the identified COVID capacity for each meeting space or hold meetings virtually.
With the upcoming holiday season, it is imperative that we continue these practices. We are not only battling coronavirus, we are also now well into the flu season.
Right here, right now is the time to remain vigilant.
More information about our plan for distributing the vaccine will be coming shortly. The COVID Vaccine Task Force will continue to manage the communication, distribution, and administration of the vaccine, which will be done in a manner that is safe, fair and equitable.
I want to thank our COVID Vaccine Task Force and Operations Command for their diligent and tireless work on this initiative. They have effectively worked together to reduce the negative impact on our people, patients and community since the onset of the pandemic several months ago. Please join me in thanking the members of the Task Force and Operations Command listed below for their efforts:
- Dr. Jim Versalovic, Interim Physician-in-Chief and Pathologist-in-Chief
- Dan DiPrisco, Executive Vice President
- Mark Mullarkey, Executive Vice President
- Mary Jo Andre, Chief Nursing Officer
- Linda Aldred, Senior Vice President
- Dr. Julie Boom, Director, Immunization Project
- Jermaine Monroe, Vice President, Human Resources
- Dr. David Mann, Chair, Clinical Ethics Committee
- Dr. Maria Bottazzi, Co-Director, Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development
- Dr. George Delclos, Medical Director, Texas Children’s Occupational Health
- Afsheen Davis, Vice President, Office of General Counsel
- Kay Tittle, President, Texas Children’s Pediatrics & Texas Children’s Urgent Care
- Trudy Leidich, Vice President, Quality and Medical Staff Services
- Jeff Wagner, Assistant Vice President, Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy, & ECMO
- Heather Cherry, Assistant Vice President, Nursing
Thank you for everything you have done throughout this pandemic. I have never been prouder to work alongside each and every one of you.