20k COVID Vaccine Dose Delivered at Jersey Shore UMC

Asbury Park NJ

04 March, 2021

5:19 PM

Description

During a week which saw the arrival of the new J&J vaccine and remembrances held at Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers, marking the one-year anniversary of treating the state’s first COVID-19 patient, Jersey Shore University Medical Center administered its 20,000 dose of COVID vaccine. 90-year-old John V. Morano, from Toms River, NJ, received the milestone dose at the academic medical center. John’s daughter Michele Morano accompanied him during his appointment at Jersey Shore, where he received his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. “I’m happy he received the vaccine because I knew how worried he was before getting his appointment. He was stressing that he wouldn’t get one, and seeing him relieved of that stress means the world to me,” said Michele. “Jersey Shore University Medical University had always been our favorite hospital in the Monmouth and Ocean County area. My father has been a patient there a few times. Every single person we have met whether nurse, physician, or general staff member has been helpful, patient, caring and accommodating.” Michelle went on to say, “even during this crazy time, no matter when we went for Dad’s vaccination appointments, everyone has been sweet and helpful. You couldn’t ask for better staff to be honest and the vaccination village is a Godsend, frankly. Easy to get to, easy to navigate, little to no wait time, and runs incredibly smooth. It’s definitely a well-oiled machine.” Through the pandemic, Hackensack Meridian medical centers treated more than 23,000 patients and 80 percent recovered. More than 133,000 people received testing for the virus in network hospitals. Hackensack Meridian began administering COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020, starting with frontline team members. The network is delivering 5,000 to 6,000 vaccine doses daily at medical centers and other sites throughout New Jersey, including the mega site in Bergen County. New Jersey has lost more than 20,000 people to COVID-19. More than one-half million people in the United States have lost their lives to the virus. John and Jersey Shore vaccinator Ashley Fortunato, BSN, R.N.-BC.