Greenbrier Valley Medical Center CEO: Do your part to stop COVID-19 resurgence

9/21/2021

With the recent resurgence of COVID-19 in West Virginia, and particularly in Greenbrier County, it is more important than ever that each of us does our part to reduce the spread of the virus. Wear a mask in public settings, practice social distancing, be vigilant about washing your hands. And most importantly, get vaccinated.

Misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines is rampant in communities across the country, including ours. The best available scientific information indicates:

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe. The same safety standards required for any vaccine in development have been required for COVID-19 vaccines. Incidents of serious side effects are very rare.
• Data shows COVID-19 vaccines to be highly effective at reducing the risk of becoming infected and spreading infection to others and effective against this most recent variant now sweeping the country.
• COVID-19 has a significant risk of transmission both before the onset of symptoms and in the absence of symptoms. These risks are substantially higher among unvaccinated individuals.
• Among unvaccinated individuals, COVID-19 infections pose a substantial risk of severe illness and death and may lead to long-term adverse impacts to health. These risks are higher among those individuals with certain underlying health conditions, like many patients in hospitals or who are seen in hospital-based ambulatory settings.

Being fully vaccinated remains the best strategy for reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We encourage anyone with questions to visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, or speak with your doctor to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine. The power to impact the spread of the virus rests with all of us.

For those who are ready to be vaccinated, there are several opportunities to do so. Pharmacies including Greenbrier Medical Arts, CVS, Wal-Mart and Kroger are currently offering COVID-19 vaccinations. The Greenbrier County Health Department, Robert C Byrd Clinic, and Rainelle Medical Center also offer the vaccine as supplies are available.

Our facility and affiliated physician clinics remain open, and we remain committed to providing a COVID-safe environment so everyone can obtain the medical care they need. We would like to remind the community to not delay care – especially when experiencing a medical emergency such as stroke symptoms or chest pain that may be a heart attack. We continue to follow CDC guidelines including requiring all staff to wear a mask at all times in the hospital and clinics.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to share my appreciation for the hospital, medical, volunteers, and clinic staff who have been on the front lines of our community’s fight against COVID-19 for more than a year. The pandemic has demonstrated how connected we all are, the impact each one of us has, and the benefit of working together for a common cause. This team cares deeply about our community and remains steadfast in the commitment to deliver safe, quality healthcare services for every patient. They deserve our endless gratitude.

Tim Bess, CEO
Greenbrier Valley Medical Center

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