Pictured above, some of the team at our Community Vaccination Center, which closed last Friday; overall, Ballad Health’s CVCs administered more than 59,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Our Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at The Mall at Johnson City closed on March 11, marking the last of our Ballad Health CVCs to cease operation. Several others were operational at different locations last year but had already been shut down, while the site at the Johnson City mall continued to offer COVID-19 vaccinations until its final day on Friday.
The role of the Ballad Health vaccination centers was crucial in our fight against COVID-19, as our CVCs administered more than 59,000 doses of the vaccine to community members as well as team members. Their efforts no doubt saved many lives and kept thousands of people from being hospitalized.
To recognize the amazing, lifesaving work of the people at the CVCs, Ballad Health had a small celebration on March 10.
“We want to thank the staff for all the work they’ve done,” said Jamie Swift, chief infection prevention officer for Ballad Health. “We’re winding this down because of vaccine availability in the community, and we’re here to celebrate the staff. Most came out of retirement to serve the community with this effort, and we want to thank the care team and all who volunteered.”
Over the last month, COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased significantly and the Omicron surge has subsided – Ballad Health had 154 COVID inpatients last Friday, and that total was down to 135 by Tuesday, March 15. Vaccines are readily available at Ballad Health Medical Associates practices, community physician offices and local pharmacies, we feel confident in closing the CVC, knowing the community has access to the vaccine in a variety of ways.
Of the Ballad Health COVID-positive inpatients over the last several months, about 90% were unvaccinated – proving the effectiveness of the vaccine and showing the importance of the CVC’s work.
Rocky Cochran, RN, retired after nearly 30 years of working in various pediatric settings (PICU, NICU, pediatric ER) but came out of retirement to help deliver the vaccine to kids in the region.
“At one point, we were seeing more than 300 people a day,” he said. “It was good we moved around to different areas in the community – it’s been a great experience.
“I would do it again in a second. It was very rewarding, and the people who worked at the CVC were great. I was blessed to do it. And I’m sure the majority of people working here agree.”
The CVCs administered about 29,000 first doses and more than 28,000 second doses – as well as 1,800 third doses starting in August 2021. This represents 64% of all vaccinations given by Ballad Health (a total of 91,067).
Laura Sholes, a nurse practitioner with more than 30 years of experience, served as the CVC site supervisor. She said because of the vaccinations “the severity of illness reduced,” and noted that people had expressed appreciation for being able to receive the vaccine and help stop the spread of COVID-19.
