Thread by @StLukesAnita

🧵@StLukesHealth TO BEGIN ADMINISTERING #COVID19VACCINE TO COMMUNITY HIGH-RISK GROUP: Group identified by the State of Idaho includes high-risk non-St. Luke’s health care workers, emergency responders, and very specific essential workers in our communities.

2/ IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SCHEDULING #COVID19VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AT @StLukesHealth:
•Appointment scheduling opens at noon today.
•ONLY qualifying people within the specific group should schedule appointments at this time. DO NOT SCHEDULE IF YOU ARE NOT IN THIS GROUP.

3/
•People who schedule will be required to provide proof of their job at their appointment.
•COVID-19 vaccine will NOT be given if proper proof of employment is not provided.

4/
•@StLukesHealth patients can schedule appointments online using myChart for quickest access.
•People who have never used St. Luke’s services may set-up myChart by calling 208-381-9000.
•Those who can't use myChart may call Connect at 208-381-9500 to set up an appointment.

5/ As vaccine continues to arrive in Idaho, and in alignment with the state and public health districts, @StLukesHealth will begin administering #COVID19vaccine this week to broader groups of community members in the next high-risk group.

6/ People who qualify under the State’s “Group 1A” classification include high-risk non-St. Luke’s health care workers, emergency responders, and very specific essential workers.

7/ Scheduling for @StLukesHealth #COVID19vaccine appointments for these designated groups will open at noon TODAY, with 1st appointments opening throughout the week, depending on location. Only people who fall within the state’s designated Group 1A should schedule at that time.

8/ To be consistent w/ Idaho’s #COVID19vaccine program, @StLukesHealth developed a tiered approach to vaccinations starting w/ highest-risk health care personnel. For 3 weeks, St. Luke’s focused on vaccinating qualifying employees/providers.

9/ @StLukesHealth will have administered approximately 8,000 #COVID19Vaccines by the end of today, with the majority of those as 1st time doses.

10/ Due to the quick progress made, @StLukesHealth is now addressing the next prioritized group based on availability of the vaccine and recommendations from Idaho’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee. @IDHW coronavirus.idaho.gov/idaho-covid-19…

11/ The state has divided the community into groups based on the risk of routine exposure to COVID-positive individuals and criteria for increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. Estimated timeline, subject to change: coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/upl…

12/ @StLukesHealth will now add those who qualify for Group 1A to its vaccination plan in alignment w/ Idaho’s vaccine program, our participation w/ the health districts as a vaccinator. A complete list can be found here: coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/upl…

13/ To verify appropriate group placement, people will be required to provide proof of employment at their appointment. COVID vaccine will not be given if the patient does not have the proper proof of their job. Examples include a badge, pay stub or W2.

14/ @StLukesHealth patients can schedule appointments online using myChart for the quickest access. People who have never used St. Luke’s services may set-up a myChart account by calling 208-381-9000.

15/ Those who cannot use myChart because they do not speak English, have a disability that prevents them from doing so, or don’t have necessary technology may call @StLukesHealth Connect 208-381-9500 to set up an appointment when their phase and subgroup opens up for scheduling.

16/ @StLukesHealth will open the same number of appointments as it has in vaccine doses, so people are encouraged to check back if they do not immediately receive an appointment.

17/ @StLukesHealth will also open three additional COVID vaccine clinics in McCall, Wood River and Twin Falls to serve the needs of those rural communities.

18/ At this time, @StLukesHealth is unable to set a specific timeline for when other groups will open for scheduling & is working to balance community demand w/ vaccine supply. We continue to be reliant on health districts along w/ state & federal planning.

19/ Patients interested in learning more about #COVID19vaccine should NOT call a @StLukesHealth clinic or provider. Instead, stay informed by:
•Finding the latest information at St. Luke’s #COVID19 Resources page - stlukesonline.org/health-service…

20/ ...
•Following @StLukesHealth on your preferred social media sites. (We know all of you love Twitter, but we're on Facebook and LinkedIn, too.)
•Checking the @IDHW's COVID-19 vaccine information page - coronavirus.idaho.gov/idaho-covid-19…

21/ While @StLukesHealth is a choice for those who will want to get the vaccine, it/s not the only choice. Many health care orgs in Idaho are working to expand access, provide vaccines at direction of state/local public health districts. Please look up all options.

22/ When anyone gets #COVID19vaccine, helps protect us all, but until a significant number of people are vaccinated, it should only be considered an additional tactic in prevention efforts. Continue to practice good measures: wear a mask, watch your distance, wash your hands.

23/ @StLukesHealth will continue to be transparent/timely in communications, given dynamic nature of all aspects of the pandemic, is grateful for patience, flexibility, understanding being exhibited as we work rapidly to both respond to pandemic/share info regarding our response.

24/ You can get all the information you need on #COVID19Vaccine at @StLukesHealth here: stlukesonline.org/health-service… THIS IS THE LIST FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAN SCHEDULE VACCINE APPOINTMENTS STARTING AT 12PM TODAY. Do not scheduled if you are not on this list. You must prove employment.

25/ Getting questions about long-term care residents: my understanding at this time is they are being vaccinated at their facilities by Walgreens and others. They are in Group 1, so should be able to schedule by putting in the facility name. I'll update if I learn differently.

26/ Update for long-term care residents: If their LTC facility has an agreement w/ a pharmacy, they should find out when they’ll get the #COVID19vaccine through that. However, @StLukesHealth can vaccinate anyone in Group 1 at this time listed here:
stlukesonline.org/health-service…

27/ @CDHidaho has let @StLukesHealth know it would like health care workers in its district to contact CDH 1st to have your name/practice put on a #COVID19vaccine list and it will then connect you w/ vaccine providers. This is ONLY for @CDHidaho. Thanks.