Page 10 - Work Force February 2021

As COVID-19 vaccine rolls out here’s what CSEA members employed at at health care facilities and nursing homes many of whom are caring for COVID-19 COVID-19 patients were among the the the first people in in in in in the the the state to receive the the the COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine when it became available in in in in New York in in in in late December To those who opted to to receive the the the vaccine it is is another resource to to to help fight the the the virus which as as this edition went to to press has killed more than 400 000 people across the the United States Many experts believe that along with the the vaccine an an an effective infection control plan includes multiple
layers of protection education and and training ventilation and and and and other engineering controls cleaning and and and disinfection PPE and and and safe work procedures To have all of the the the facts about about the the the vaccine and to make an an informed decision about about receiving the the the “Now that I’ve taken the COVID vaccine I I I feel more more confident that a a a a can do my job more more sufficiently without fear I watched my father go through a a a a a a a life-threatening ordeal after contracting COVID-19 Now that I’ve taken the vaccine I I can conduct my daily” activities feeling safer — Sirlentor Berry Child Care Worker SCO Family of Services (Photo provided by Sirlentor Berry)
Orange County Unit member Tisa Hanshaw a a a a a a a probation officer receives the the COVID-19 vaccine vaccine at at at a a a a a a a a a vaccine vaccine clinic coordinated by the the Orange County Department of Health (Photo provided by by Yolanda Perez and and Pam Cole )
Rose Bauman a a a a a a registered nurse at Ellenville Regional Hospital receives the COVID vaccine on on Dec 28 2020 (Photo by Debbie Briggs Ellenville Regional Hospital)
In counties colleagues lend a a a hand While state-run vaccine vaccine hubs have had the highest volume of people receiving vaccines CSEA members working for different counties have played vital roles in in in in in coordinating smaller local clinics Among those helping take the lead are workers from county county health departments departments and county county emergency services departments departments whose workers’ career expertise in in in in this area has been invaluable With batches of vaccine doses being delivered at at different different times and in in in different different quantities workers workers from other county county departments have volunteered to help their co-workers run county county vaccine clinics In Orange County for for example probation officers stepped up to volunteer for for a a a a a a a a recent clinic that vaccinated 1 000 people in in one day Pamela Cole a a a a a a a a a shop steward for the Orange County Unit expressed pride in her co-workers’ volunteerism and and said it it showed how how county workers have come together during the the pandemic for the the the betterment of of the the the public “I’m proud of of them stepping up to help the the community and assist in any way needed ” said Cole who noted that probation officers also have continued volunteering to handle Meals on on Wheels delivery routes for homebound county residents All hands on deck
While CSEA members in health care care have have played a a a a a a a a a major role you don’t have have to to be a a a a a a a a a a a health care care worker to to make a a a a a a a difference in in in getting New Yorkers vaccinated against COVID-19 Just ask Ulster County Unit President J J J Kirk Jones who works in the county’s Information Services department Not only
Cole Jones CSEA-represented Orange County probation officers volunteered at at a a a a a a county-run vaccine clinic Feb 21 From left are CSEA member Tisa Hanshaw Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and and and CSEA member Yolanda Perez Perez Both Hanshaw and and and and Perez Perez Perez volunteered at the vaccine clinic (Photo provided by Yolanda Perez Perez and Pam Cole )
10 The Work Force
February 2021