The CDA did a flash survey among members two weeks ago to better understand the continued need for COVID-19 vaccinations for dental professionals. We found that one third of our members had received the first dose; one third had received both doses; and one third had yet to be vaccinated despite substantial efforts. The dentists in metro-area counties, Larimer County and El Paso County were most in need of the vaccine.
The CDA contacted CDPHE to express substantial concern over these numbers, especially since the vaccine phases of eligibility were expanding further. In response to this, CDPHE issued this letter to all hospitals in Colorado last Wednesday stressing the critical need to prioritize and vaccinate all healthcare providers.
In addition, the CDA contacted Denver Health to ask for help vaccinating CDA members and their teams. Within two hours, Denver Health had generously approved 500 complete doses of the vaccine for dental professionals. This good news, however, comes with an even greater story.
COMOM volunteers emptying out the COMOM semi-truck to gather PPE to donate to the front line hospitals in 2020.
COMOM donating PPE to Denver Health on April 1, 2020.
Last spring, the board of directors of the Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) made the decision, without hesitation, to donate PPE to local hospitals that were struggling to protect their employees amidst the sudden surge of COVID-19. These hospital workers were double and triple using masks in an attempt to protect themselves from the virus. So, on a brisk spring morning, the COMOM board pulled its semitruck out of hibernation, secured a forklift and operator, and unloaded the entire truck in the middle of a massive truckyard.
The board gathered 152,000 sets of gloves, 27,500 surgical masks, 1,750 gowns and 560 sets of eye protection—a donation valued at $12,000.
A huge bulk of this PPE was given to Denver Health (see the CBS story here). And this community generosity was not forgotten. The story of COMOM helping frontline healthcare workers when they needed it most has now come full circle, and Denver Health has truly helped our dental community when we needed it most.
Thank you COMOM and thank you Denver Health!