Stanford Medicine last week vaccinated employees and researchers not considered top health care professionals, according to a statement from Stanford officials, in a misstep that further underscores the institution’s flawed vaccine distribution plan.
As reported by the Stanford Daily for the first time, doses of the vaccine offered through visiting visits on Saturdays and Sundays at Stanford Hospital, intended for clinical staff only, were administered to some non-clinical staff, Stanford Medicine confirmed in a statement in Wednesday.
In a statement on Wednesday, a Stanford spokesman said that “many individuals were refused because they did not meet the necessary criteria.“At the end of the day, a follow-up statement said in part:” Unfortunately, over the past weekend, inaccurate information about the availability of the vaccine circulated in our community, prompting some ineligible employees to receive the vaccine. “
Only frontline health care workers were eligible to receive the vaccine at Stanford from December 17 to 28. Other non-clinical professionals are eligible from January 8, reported the Daily.
But affiliates at the institution reportedly shared incorrect information via e-mails and social media, saying there was an “oversupply” of vaccines and adding that the non-clinical team, including teachers and students, could come in and take a picture, of according to the Daily.
Stanford said Wednesday’s vaccinations are by invitation only, and notifications are sent through the MyHealth system and / or the department’s leader.
“Stanford Medicine is currently administering vaccines only to healthcare professionals who deal with patients,” the statement continues. “We have addressed this problem and are confident that we will continue to vaccinate the entire Stanford medical community quickly through an ethical and equitable process.”
This latest confusion at the launch of the Stanford Medicine vaccine comes almost two weeks after dozens of frontline residents left in protest, saying they were passed over during the initial vaccination phase. Institution leaders after the protest acknowledged that the algorithm used to distribute the vaccine was flawed and apologized, promising to revise the plan to prioritize frontline workers.
Here is the latest full statement from Stanford Medicine about the latest vaccination mess:
“Across the country, healthcare systems like Stanford Medicine are working hard to rapidly vaccinate their healthcare workforce in unprecedented conditions. Unfortunately, over the past weekend, inaccurate information about vaccine availability has circulated in our community, taking some ineligible employees to receive the vaccination. Over time, Stanford Medicine is administering vaccines only to healthcare professionals who deal with the patient. We address this problem and are confident that we will continue to vaccinate the entire Stanford Medicine community quickly through an ethical and equitable process. “
Here is the original full statement from Stanford Medicine the previous Wednesday:
“Stanford Medicine was disappointed to learn of false information circulating about the availability of the vaccine. On Sunday, many individuals were rejected for not meeting the necessary criteria. We recognize that ensuring a process of ethical and equitable distribution of the vaccine depends on the commitment of the recipients of the vaccine, as well as our administration.
“Stanford Medicine is currently administering vaccines to healthcare professionals who deal with patients. Vaccines are by invitation only and notifications are sent via the MyHealth system and / or the department leader. This fair process follows guidelines for distribution and accounting from the California Department of Public Health and will allow us to vaccinate everyone in the Stanford Medical community. “