More than 1,500 employees vaccinated at St. John’s
Episcopal Hospital following incentive program
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | AUG. 20 - AUG. 26, 2021 19
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A hospital in the Rockaways announced
that more than 1,500 members
of its staff received the COVID-19
vaccine thanks to a monthlong staff
vaccination incentive program.
Under the program implemented by
St. John’s Episcopal Hospital (SJEH),
health care staff who got vaccinated
were automatically entered into a raffle
to win a new car, helping the hospital
surpass Queens’ overall hospital
worker vaccination percentage of over
67 percent.
Currently, city data shows that only
40.7 percent of the Rockaways residents
in 11691 are vaccinated, making
it the top unvaccinated ZIP code in
Queens and the third overall in New
York City behind 11211 and 11233 in
Brooklyn. Additionally, 11691 was the
second deadliest ZIP code at the height
of the pandemic.
“I am happy to say after implementing
the car raffle contest, St. John’s
has climbed above the Queens County
total percentage of hospital employees
who are COVID-19 vaccinated,” said
Christopher J. Parker, RN, NEA-BC,
CHCQM, executive vice president,
chief operating officer/chief nursing
officer. “We are doing all that we can
do to provide that extra nudge to those
who may be hesitant to get the vaccine,
especially with the delta variant becoming
more prominent in NYC.”
The winner of the car raffle, funded
through incentives from the Cares
Act, was Chidoziri Banks, a patient
care technician and Rockaway resident.
The lucky winner of the Honda
Civic Sport works the night shift at
SJEH and is a stringent advocate of
the vaccine.
“This program was lovely because
it was a great incentive to influence
staff to get the vaccine,” Banks said.
“I recovered from COVID-19 and it was
difficult. I encourage you to protect
yourself and your loved ones by getting
the vaccine if you are eligible!”
Those interested can receive the
free COVID-19 vaccine at St. John’s new
Patient Express Care Center, which
is open Monday through Friday from
12:30 to 9 p.m., with vaccines available
from 1 to 8 p.m. Patients can walk in
without an appointment or schedule
an appointment at 718-869-7690.
Patients can also get vaccinated
through the Mobile Health Unit. Visit
@StJohnsEpisHosp on Twitter to find
out the location of the Mobile Health
Unit.
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal by
e-mail at jbagcal@schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260-2583.
HEALTH
Jerry Walsh, CEO; Ian of Honda City Levittown, human resources representative; Saundra L. Chisolm, director of employee
health and wellness emergency preparedness coordinator; Dr. Christopher Parker, executive vice president, chief operating
officer/chief nursing officer; Angela Schweitzer, nurse manager, chief human resources officer and vice president.
Photos courtesy of SJEH
Chidoziri Banks, patient care technician.
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