St. John’s Episcopal begins vaccinating staff, 9 months after treating Queens’ first COVID case

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway started to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Photo courtesy of St. John’s

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway began vaccinating essential medical workers Tuesday, nine months after staff there treated Queens’ very first case of COVID-19.

By late March, St. John’s was overwhelmed by COVID-sick patients seeking treatment in one of the hardest-hit sections of New York City, and, at the time, the world. 

“Through all of this, one thing remained a constant, our staff showed up to work each day ready to face this deadly disease head-on,” said St. John’s Episcopal Chief Medical Officer Donald Morrish. “They worked countless hours and sacrificed time with their loved ones.” 

The only hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula at first lacked a sufficient number of ventilators and even personal protective equipment, like masks and goggles, to meet the need for emergency treatment, the Eagle reported in March.

The arrival of the vaccine produced by Pfizer comes as Queens medical centers again face a spike in new COVID cases. Six of the 31 ICU beds at St. John’s were used for COVID-positive patients during the week of Dec. 4 to the 10, according to a weekly report of federal hospital data compiled by the University of Minnesota. 

St. John’s staff celebrated the arrival of what Mayor Bill de Blasio described as a “shot of hope,” and recognized the heroic efforts of medical personnel who have served Queens throughout the pandemic.

“I am extremely proud of our staff who bravely come to work each and every day. Some of our staff became sick, and many lost family members to this disease,” said St. John’s CEO Jerry Walsh. “We recognize their hard work and sacrifices. They deserve this vaccine, and I hope it brings them comfort to know that they are protected.”