Stephanie Hepburn is a writer in New Orleans. She is the editor in chief of #CrisisTalk. You can reach her at .
Behavioral health crisis services leadership and staff are getting the coronavirus vaccine around the United States, encouraging their colleagues and others to do the same. The rollout began on December 14, 2020. Have a photo you’d like to send? You can reach us at .
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – Carlos Mackall, MS CAADC, Vice President at RI International, gets his first dose of the Moderna vaccine at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. He says that as a behavioral healthcare leader and an African American man, he wants to share his experience with people on the fence about vaccination. “Historically, African American men have had a distrust for law enforcement, hospitals, and doctors,” says Mackall. “That’s because, for years, we’ve been violated by systems that are supposed to help us.” Many of his older relatives remain wary of the healthcare system, which worries him. There have been 431,882 deaths in the U.S. alone. “This virus is different and disproportionately affects African Americans,” he says. “After weighing all of my options and doing my research, I’ve decided to get the vaccine. I feel that if we plan to ever get back to some sort of normalcy, we will need this vaccine.”
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – Gloria Henderson, MS, CAADC, Recovery Navigatory at RI International, gets her first dose of the Moderna vaccine at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. “It was simple and easy to know that change is ever-present,” says Henderson.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – Delilah Colon, MS, LMSW, HS-BCP, Recovery Services Administrator I at RI International, gets her first dose of the Moderna vaccine at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. “We received a call to get to the hospital in 15 minutes for our first dose of the vaccine,” says Colon. “We are truly grateful to have a relationship with St. Francis Hospital.”
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 – Amy Pugsley, Vice President at RI International, gets her first vaccine dose at the Banner Health drive-through site at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. “It was a smooth process,” says Pugsley. “They were efficient, friendly, and talkative throughout the process.”
Sunday, January 24, 2021 – On Sunday, RI International held a vaccination clinic at their Desert Sage location in Indio, California, for staff and residents. The clinic was offered through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program and sponsored by CVS pharmacy. “21 staff and 20 residents received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine,” says Marine Soriano, MA, LMFT, Recovery Services Administrator II. “Two more clinics will be held, one for both 1st and 2nd dose recipients, and a final one for the final 2nd dose recipients. We are very grateful for this opportunity!”
Thursday, January 21, 2021 – “Second dose!” says David Covington, LPC, MBA, CEO and president at RI International. Dignity Health drive-through Covid vaccine center at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Chandler, Arizona.
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 – Jodie Leer, LMHC, Washington State Director at RI International, gets the Moderna vaccine at a nearby hospital satellite location. “It was well organized, structured, and folks were very pleasant,” she says. “They do tell you about the many side effects that you can experience, of which I am aware of now. But I am glad I did it!”
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 – Charles T. Browning, MD, Chief Medical Officer at RI International, gets his vaccine shot with colleagues in Henderson, North Carolina. He says it took just a few moments and there was no pain. “I didn’t even feel the needle.” The nurse who administered the shot told him to massage his shoulder throughout the day to minimize soreness.
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Friday, January 8, 2021 – Georgea Madeira, LMFT, MBA, California State Director at RI International, received her first Moderna vaccine injection on Friday, January 8, at Riverside University Health System Medical Center. She says it was one of the most incredible days of her life. “It was truly a mix of joy and optimism with sadness for those who have been affected by this terrible virus. The fight goes on!” The shot was painless, and the next day she had mild cold-like symptoms. “I had a bit of a running nose, and my arm was sore. Now… on to the second dose in 3 weeks. 😊”
Thursday, January 7, 2021 – Jack Rozel, MD, MSL, resolve Crisis Services Medical Director at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “#FauciOuchy The one time in my career I have not led from the front. Most of my staff have now received their first shot, and now it’s my turn. Relieved and grateful, but very much appreciate that this is only the end of the beginning.” #MaskUp
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 – Marleigh O’Meara, MC, LPC, NCC, VP Southwest Region at RI International, received the Pfizer vaccine at the Arizona State Fairgrounds drive-through. She says the entire process took just over an hour. “Staff was nice, and they kept the long lines moving relatively quickly.” O’Meara says the shot didn’t hurt, but as expected, her arm was sore the next day. She also experienced minor chills, a headache, and body soreness. “The symptoms were mild, and I was able to work and live my life.”
Monday, December 28, 2020 – David Covington, LPC, MBA, CEO and president at RI International, received an email from the Arizona Dept. of Health Services inviting him to a vaccination event. Covington was surprised by the site’s capacity. “It was a master class in ‘anyone, anytime, anywhere’ despite the significant obstacles of such an endeavor.” He says the collaboration between the Dignity South East staff, Chandler Gilbert Community College, local law enforcement, and National Guard was amazing. “That’s how we’re going to vaccinate an entire nation!” Covington never left his car and completed the process in a few minutes. Most people sat in their vehicles for 15 minutes of follow-up with someone from the Dignity team checking in on them. “I barely felt the shot, and the trip home and back, including the vaccine, was about 30 minutes total.” He will get an email to schedule his follow-up to the Pfizer vaccine, which will need to be administered 21 days from the initial injection.
Monday, December 28, 2020 – Grace Wolf, RI International state director in North Carolina, received the Moderna vaccine on Monday. The needle was tiny, and it was over in a flash! She waited in a room for 15 minutes with an EMT who checked her injection site to ensure no adverse reaction. And, with that, she was on her way! Her second one will be administered on January 26. Grace shared her appreciation that Onslow County is offering this support to the Crisis Recovery Center team.
Friday, December 18, 2020 – “I was fortunate to receive the COVID vaccine through SFDPH as part of Comprehensive Crisis Services. It’s reassuring to see our system recognizing the essential work or frontline crisis responders like the staff in my program, and by getting the vaccine myself, I’m hoping to reassure others that in my assessment, the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.”—Matthew L. Goldman, M.D., M.S., is the Medical Director of Comprehensive Crisis Services at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Friday, December 18, 2020 – It’s a beautiful sunny day for a drive-thru #covidvacccine! Feeling happy and hopeful that this is the beginning of the end! Yay science! #vaccinated ☀️🌵🚘😷💪💉🤜💥🦠☠️😁❤️—Margaret Balfour, M.D., Ph.D., getting the vaccine at Tucson Medical Center in Arizona. Dr. Balfour is the Chief of Quality & Clinical Innovation at Connections Health Solutions.
