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December 18, 2020
COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives in Delaware
Health Care Systems / Long Term Care Facilities Begin Vaccinating
The initial shipment of 975 doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine arrived Monday at Bayhealth’s Kent County campus in Dover where Elisabeth Cote, a Progressive Care Unit nurse at Bayhealth, received the first vaccination. After receiving the additional 7,800 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at its warehouse in Kent County on Wednesday, the vaccine was delivered to three long-term care facilities in Dover, Milford, and Seaford. Residents will be able to begin receiving the vaccine the week of December 28, as part of vaccination efforts under the federal pharmacy program. Walgreens and CVS pharmacists are partnering with facilities to vaccinate residents. Read more.
Now is the Time to Register to Become a COVID-19 Vaccinator!
DPH Releases Updated Enrollment Instructions
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is strongly recommending medical practices go through the process of registering to be a COVID-19 vaccinator, regardless of whether the intention is to vaccinate. Being enrolled will allow small practices to have the option to vaccinate their own staff once the vaccine becomes available. The process to enroll can take time, so it is important not to delay. DPH has updated their vaccine enrollment instructions for interested practices. Read Vaccine Enrollment Instructions. For answers to questions please email COVIDVaccine@delaware.gov.
Delaware Vaccine Call Center Now Open
Resource for General Public Questions
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has set up a Vaccine Call Center for members of the public who have specific questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. The Call Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday and will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Vaccine Call Center can be reached at 302-672-6150. Individuals can also email their questions concerning the vaccine to Vaccine@Delaware.gov. Read more.
FDA Approves Over the Counter COVID-19 Test
No Prescription Required
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first coronavirus test that people will be able to buy at a local store without a prescription and use for immediate results at home to find out if they're positive or negative. The test will cost about $30 and be available by January. The FDA had previously authorized other tests that let people avoid long lines by collecting a sample themselves at home, but require people to send the sample to a lab and wait for the results. Read more.
Share Your Picture Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine
Help Alleviate Public Concerns With Your Testimonial
Thank you to MSD member and Sussex County nephrologist Janet T. Pedro, MD who shared her picture getting the COVID-19 vaccine at Tidal Health yesterday. The photo will be used with her reason why she wanted to get the vaccine to help alleviate concerns in the public. Dr. Pedro's reason, "It will be a step closer to getting our lives back to normal." Please consider sharing your picture getting vaccinated with the end of the sentence "I got the COVID-19 vaccine because..." Email pictures and sentence to Mary.Fenimore@medsocdel.org.
DPH Announces Latest COVID-19 Statistics
Delaware Hospitals See Record Number COVID-19 Hospitalizations
According to the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), here are the latest Delaware COVID-19 statistics.

  • 49,109 total laboratory-confirmed cases
  • Deaths: 854
  • Cases today: 323
  • New Castle County cases: 28,235
  • Kent County cases: 7,676
  • Sussex County cases: 13,079
  • Unknown: 119
  • Age range: 0 to 104
  • Hospitalized: 407; Critically ill: 68

Aggregate K-12 School-Related COVID-19 Statistics: Delaware cumulative number of COVID-19 positive students and staff who were in-person at a school or child care facility while potentially infectious, reported to DPH between between Dec. 10 - Dec. 16. Please note, these figures do not indicate that the infections were caused from being in the school setting. 

  • Child care – 24 staff and 27 students 
  • Private K-12 – 9 staff and 18 students
  • Public K-12 – 54 staff and 48 students


Additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including race/ethnicity, more age-specific data and COVID rate information by ZIP code, and information on Delaware's contact tracing efforts can be found on the Division of Public Health's My Healthy Community data portal. 
Member News
Robert Abel Jr., MD Authors Tenth Book
MSD member and ophthalmologist Robert Abel Jr., MD found a way to use his time during the pandemic by writing a book. Is Death Really a Mystery? is an attempt to allay one of life's existential questions as well as respond to the overwhelming media preoccupation with the subject. The book contains 140 extraordinary reports from ordinary people chronicling their vistations while asleep or awake, as well as near-death experiences. "After contributing published celebrity and my own encounters, I identify the common threads that connect all of these stories. Then, you, the reader, can arrive at your own conclusions," shares Abel. Is Death Really a Mystery can be found on Amazon. Dr. Abel says he would be happy to autograph copies for anyone interested upon request. Contact Dr. Abel at abeleyes@gmail.com.
Join MSD Environmental Health Subcommitee
Find out How You Can Make a Difference
The MSD Environmental Health Subcommittee is looking for interested committee members. If you are interested in making an impact with other members with common objectives to help improve the health of patients, the environment, and the planet, this committee is for you.
Membership on the Environmental Health Subcommittee is on an annual appointed basis. Meetings are normally held during the evening. Please contact Mary LaJudice, MSD Senior Director of Corporate Services at Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org.
Give the Gift of Food for the Holidays
MSD Virtual Food Drive
This year more than ever food banks across the country need help filling the shelves for those less fortunate. The Medical Society of Delaware has teamed up with the Food Bank of Delaware for a Virtual Food Drive. This holiday season, please consider donating - a single dollar provides three meals and you can give the hope of a holiday meal without leaving your home or office (aka social distancing done correctly!) To donate.
Pending Members
Christina A. Degnon, MD, MPH
Jacqueline S. Holt, MD
Angelica M. Montes, MD
Mustafa A. Mufti, MD
MSD members are afforded a seven day review period from the date of this publication to comment regarding an applicant applying for membership. Please contact Mary LaJudice at (302) 224-5183 or Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org with any questions or concerns.
"Rerum Cognoscere"
The Latin phrase Rerum Cognoscere translates to learn, examine, or become aware of facts or things. In this section we highlight measurable items of interest in health care from MSD, Delaware, the US, and the world.
#1
Black women have the highest risk of pregnancy-related heart problems in the U.S.

Journal of the American Heart Association
1.6 Million
Number of children who have contracted COVID-19 in the United States since the start of the pandemic.

American Academy of Pediatrics
5
The number of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that England has pre-ordered for each of their citizens.

Airfinity
Upcoming Events
March 6 - 32nd Annual Update in Cardiology, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., virtual event.
March 13 - 25th Annual Diabetes Update, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., virtual event.
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