A message from our community partners at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe…
“As our fight against COVID-19 continues, the number of hospitalizations across the Scott & White System are rising. At present, 90% of BSW inpatients with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. And if you break those numbers down even further, 91% of COVID patients in the ICUs and on ventilators are unvaccinated. Those numbers are startling and reinforce that vaccines save lives and keep people out of the hospital.
We are hopeful the recent news from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will help encourage additional community members to get the vaccine —our best defense in ending this pandemic.
Monday morning, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in those 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals ages 12 to 15 and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
Additionally, following the FDA and CDC’s recommendation to offer third doses of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines to moderately and severely immunocompromised individuals, our vaccination task force has operationalized a plan to begin administering doses.
➡ Eligible Texans can call the BSW vaccine line (1.844.BSW.VACC) to schedule an appointment at one of our clinics, pharmacies or the Dallas hub. Upon scheduling, individuals will be asked if they are immunocompromised and which vaccine series they had.
➡ Eligible Texans can also walk into one of our BSW retail pharmacies to receive their third dose. Locations and walk-in times can be found on our new, dedicated third-dose page on BSWHealth.com, along with more information about eligibility.
➡ Self-scheduling on the MyBSWHealth app and MyBSWHealth.com will be available in the coming weeks.
While the Biden administration issued a joint statement recommending booster shots for all vaccinated Americans, we are waiting for official authorization from the FDA, followed by a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). We know many are eager to get their third shot, and we will update you as soon as a booster dose is recommended in additional populations.
The fatigue of this pandemic continues to wear on all of us, especially our frontline caregivers. Unlike last year at this time, we now have a tool that can put an end to thousands of hospitalizations and deaths. These vaccines have undergone the most intense safety monitoring of any vaccine in history. They will protect your health and the health of those around you. Please, stand with us to help get as many of our community members, loved ones and neighbors vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Sincerely,
Donas Cole, FACHE
President
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe
6800 Scenic Drive | Rowlett, Texas 75088
