Mercy Health, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System receive COVID-19 vaccine, administer first vaccinations

Four Trinity Health Michigan hospitals receive initial doses

CANTON and NORTON SHORES, Mich. (Dec. 17, 2020) – Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, which together comprise the Michigan region of Trinity Health,have taken delivery of the first shipment of the FDA-Approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at four of its hospitals.

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids have each received 975 doses, with Mercy Health Muskegon receiving 1,950 doses, earlier today.

The vaccines are being administered on a voluntary basis to health care personnel who meet the CDC-defined criteria of direct patient care to COVID-19 patients, including those working on the COVID units, Intensive Care Unit, and Emergency Department.   Employees who work in those departments are being given the opportunity to self-register and make an appointment to obtain the vaccine.

“I am amazed and deeply grateful to the colleagues across our health system who have worked tirelessly to operationalize the vaccine distribution at our hospitals,” said Dr. Rosalie Tocco-Bradley, chief clinical officer, Trinity Health Michigan. “We will continue to vaccinate as many employees as possible each week.  We are confident in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and strongly encourage everyone ages 16 and older to be vaccinated as the vaccine becomes more widely available.”

The health system expects to continue to receive weekly shipments of both the Pfizer and the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine, once it becomes available.  St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, St. Joseph Mercy Livingston and St. Mary Mercy Livonia should receive their first shipments next week.  All Trinity Health Michigan hospitals have ultra-cold freezers and are prepared to receive, store and distribute COVID-19 vaccines.

People who are vaccinated must stay committed to the recommended safety guidelines. It is crucial to remain vigilant – avoid crowds, continue physical distancing, wear masks and continue excellent hand hygiene.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the vaccine, please visit these websites:

• St. Joe’s – https://www.stjoeshealth.org/vaccine
• Mercy Health – https://www.mercyhealth.com/vaccine

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About Trinity Health Michigan 

Trinity Health Michigan is a leading health care provider and one of the state’s largest employers. With more than 24,000 full-time employees serving numerous counties, Trinity Health Michigan is composed of eight hospitals, including the five hospitals of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System located in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Howell, Livonia and Pontiac, and the three-hospital Mercy Health, operating in Grand Rapids and Muskegon. The health system has 2,348 beds and 3,400 physicians. With operating revenues of $3.4 billion, Trinity Health Michigan returns $195 million back to their local communities each year. Together with numerous ambulatory care locations, three home health agencies, one hospice agency and 17 senior living communities owned and/or operated by Trinity Health, Trinity Health Michigan provides the full continuum of care for Michigan residents.

Nationally, Trinity Health is among the country’s largest Catholic health care systems. Based in Livonia, Michigan, with operations in 22 states, Trinity Health employs about 129,000 colleagues, including 7,500 physicians and clinicians. The system has annual operating revenues of $18.3 billion, assets of nearly $27 billion, and returns about $1.2 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit www.trinity-health.org.