Cooper Passes 100K COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered

Cooper University Healthcare has now administered more than 100,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the health system announced on Wednesday.

Cooper was the first hospital in South Jersey to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the state, back in December. It immediately began vaccinating its staff. Read more here: Cooper Employees Among First In NJ To Get Coronavirus Vaccine

Once the vaccine became more readily available, Cooper worked with the Camden County Health Department and many other community agencies, organizations, and educational institutions to provide staffing and logistical support to numerous community-based vaccine clinics including the vaccination site at Camden County College in Gloucester Township.

Then, in February, Cooper opened the first-of-its-kind, neighborhood-based COVID-19 Vaccination and Education Center at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in Camden, in an area of the city that was hard-hit by COVID-19.

The unique center added an education component to answer questions from members of community who have been traditionally skeptical about receiving vaccines. Read more here: Neighborhood COVID-19 Vaccine Center To Open In Camden

“This milestone is a testament to the team’s tireless efforts to educate the community on the facts concerning vaccine safety and effectiveness while simultaneously ensuring widespread access to the vaccine throughout our region,” Cooper co-CEO Kevin O’Dowd said.

“The complicated logistics of vaccine distribution at multiple sites over the better part of a year while treating COVID-19 patients is a testament to the dedication of Cooper’s team members as well as the commitment of our community partners as we work together to keep South Jersey safe from this virus,” Cooper co-CEO Anthony J. Mazzarelli said. “We encourage everyone to get a vaccine – it is not too late, whether you need a booster or a first-time vaccination.”

Cooper, as one of the three academic health systems designated by the state to coordinate COVID-19 response, partnered with all the health systems in South Jersey to ensure there were enough critical care beds, personal protective equipment for clinical teams, and planning for the transportation of patients, if necessary, officials said.

Cooper also collaborated with city and county officials and neighboring health systems to develop numerous pop-up coronavirus testing sites in community hotspots throughout Camden. Cooper developed dedicated coronavirus testing sites for first responders, public employees, and other essential frontline personnel.

The New Jersey Department of Health enlisted Cooper’s services to provide testing for more than 3,000 residents and staff at nursing homes and extended care facilities throughout South Jersey, which was executed in days. As of Wednesday, Cooper has tested nearly 135,000 residents, and continues to provide these services.

Cooper’s critical care specialists have treated more than 3,800 coronavirus patients requiring hospitalization to date, while working closely with other health systems and providing critical care/intensivist coverage to dozens of hospitals throughout South Jersey.