COVID-19 Vaccine Update

June 25, 2021

Masks are Still Required in Health Care Settings

California reopened on June 15 because vaccines are working and COVID-19 cases are down in our community and throughout the state. We are thrilled to be here and thank you for everything you’ve have done over the past year and a half to help us get to this point.

However, for your safety and that of all patients and their loved ones – as well as our employees, physicians and volunteers – we remind you that face coverings continue to be required in health care settings. This includes all Washington Hospital Healthcare System buildings and clinics. And wearing a mask applies to everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated. The CDC, the State Health Department, and our infectious disease experts agree that masking in the health care setting is a best practice. Please wear the hospital-issued mask that is available at our building and clinic entrances.

Self-Screening Prior to Entry

Beginning Monday, June 21, everyone entering any Hospital building or clinic is required to self-screen for symptoms prior to entering. This means that every patient, visitor, employee, physician and volunteer must pass the self-screening process prior to entry.

Additionally, we still require that you sanitize your hands before you enter. Hand sanitizer is conveniently available at all entrances and throughout our buildings and clinics.

In advance, we thank you for your continued support and commitment to safety. We look forward to caring for you and your loved ones.

COVID-19 Vaccination

Washington Hospital Healthcare System and Washington Township Medical Foundation are offering the free COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 12 years of age and older.

Appointments are required and can be made through any of the following options.

1. We offer an easy-to-use, online tool to schedule your first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Book Online

2. You can also schedule a COVID-19 vaccination through your Washington Hospital MyChart account.*

*If you have received an invitation to schedule a vaccine through MyChart, click here.

3. You can also call our COVID-19 vaccination phone line at 510.248.8200 (open during business hours). If you want to choose a COVID-19 vaccine of either Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson; please use the button below. Please note that we often experience long wait times in this call center.

Call To Schedule

Washington Hospital Healthcare System and Washington Township Medical Foundation thank you for receiving the vaccine, and for taking such an important step towards community immunity.

Parents/guardians scheduling a vaccination appointment for children 12 and older may click here.

Remember that walk-ins are not accepted, so please schedule your appointment.

To prove your eligibility at the vaccination site, you will be required to:

• Sign an attestation under penalty of perjury confirming that you meet the criteria.
• Bring a document showing you are 12 or older.
• Bring a document showing proof of parent/guardianship of the 12- to 17-year-old.

If you have questions about your eligibility, call our COVID-19 vaccination phone line at 510.248.8200.

All vaccination appointments are being made based on vaccine availability. Appointments are limited and contingent on the county allocating the vaccine. Appointments will be temporarily paused when we fill all available slots, and will be resumed once additional vaccine is confirmed by the county.

For more information about vaccination eligibility in CA and other vaccination resources, go to myturn.ca.gov. If appointments are not available, you can register at myturn.ca.gov to be notified when vaccination appointments open up.

Where can I find more information?

A CDC fact sheet on the COVID-19 vaccination is available at the CDC website.

Our Response to the Coronavirus

Washington Hospital is well prepared to care for COVID-19 patients. We treat and handle all suspected coronavirus cases according to our infectious disease protocols. In addition, we follow strict guidelines as defined by the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes having designated isolation rooms in our Emergency Department and throughout our facilities, thus allowing us to keep patients with possible infectious diseases separate from others. The health and safety of our patients and visitors, as well as our staff, physicians and volunteers, remains a top priority for us.

Don't delay your health care. To learn more about Washington Hospital's precautions during COVID-19, go to www.whhs.com/dontdelay.

COVID-19 Testing

Washington Hospital's Emergency Department on Civic Center Drive is always open and sees patients with any medical emergency, including those with respiratory issues or any of the symptoms below.

For everyone's safety, all patients are seen in private rooms.

COVID-19 testing is only performed when patients have any of the following symptoms or have been exposed:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

The ED provider will determine if testing is performed on asymptomatic patients (patients without COVID-19 symptoms) who have been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19.

Patients can get test results by logging into their personal MyChart account, three to four days after the test is administered.

The patient's insurance will be billed for COVID-19 testing, but copays and/or deductibles are waived by most insurance companies for COVID-19-related services only. For the list of community testing sites in Alameda County, go to http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/testing.aspx.

To learn more about COVID-19 testing at Washington Hospital, see the following vendor Fact Sheets for Patients:

COVID-19 Testing for Patients: Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 Testing for Patients: BioFire Respiratory Panel 2.1
COVID-19 Testing for Patients: Quidel Sofia Antigen FIA
COVID-19 Testing for Patients: Abbott SARS-CoV-2

Convalescent Plasma Donation

Washington Hospital has joined more than 2,200 hospitals across the country in a government-supported program to administer convalescent plasma as a therapy for those who are severely ill with COVID-19. This is part of an investigational study led by the Mayo Clinic, which recently posted a report showing that this promising approach appears to be safe for COVID-19 patients.

The treatment entails harvesting antibody-rich plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19, then transfusing it into those who are newly infected with the virus. The hope is the convalescent plasma will help speed recovery and increase the odds of survival for those fighting COVID-19.

“The issue right now is there are not enough donors to meet the current need for convalescent plasma,” said Dr. Azizirad. “We encourage people who have recovered from COVID-19 to register with the Red Cross to donate plasma so they can benefit others in their community who are currently fighting the illness. We also hope local physicians will remind their patients who have had the virus to help in this way.” For more information on plasma donation, visit the Red Cross website at: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html

Temporary Visitor Restrictions

Starting Monday, June 21, Washington Hospital patients without COVID-19 are allowed two visitors per day between the hours of 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Visitor must be 18 years of age or older. Exceptions to the policy are determined by the care team and include parents of newborn and pediatric patients; and end-of-life situations.

For technology options to help facilitate communication with patients in the Hospital, please call our Service Desk at 510.818.7099.

Recommendations to prevent illness overall include the following:

• Wash hands with soap and water
• If soap and water not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Follow shelter-in-place order
• Unless you work in an essential business, only leave your home for essential errands, such as purchasing groceries or picking up medications
• Practice social distancing—stay 6 feet from others—when you need to be away from your home

For more on coronavirus, we encourage you to visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Also, the Alameda County Public Health Department is an excellent local resource, and they have coronavirus information at http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov.aspx.

If you have questions or concerns about coronavirus, call your primary care physician. For all life-threatening emergencies, call your nearest emergency department for further instruction.

Donating to Washington Hospital

We thank the community for reaching out to inquire about how they can help Washington Hospital Healthcare System with the fight against COVID-19. Across the nation, hospitals both big and small, are facing an unprecedented challenge in a number of areas including hospital-grade personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies and hand sanitizers. The Hospital is constantly monitoring supply levels while continuing to aggressively investigate new vendor sources.

Anyone interested in donating to the Hospital can do so by contacting Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation at 510.818.7350. We ask that items not be delivered to the Emergency Department or any other area of the Hospital without first contacting the Foundation.

These are difficult times for everyone, but we will continue to be here for the community. Patient, staff and physician safety is the number one priority and we thank you all for coming together to help.