The number of vaccine shots administered by Semmelweis staff members exceeds 300,000

Semmelweis University staff has already administered more than 300,000 COVID-19 vaccines, making the institution one of the largest vaccination centers in Hungary, where vaccination is still ongoing. Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector emphasized that in addition to patient care and coronavirus screening, Semmelweis also performs exemplary work in the field of vaccinations, since more than 5% of the vaccines administered in Hungary were administered at the institution.

“Semmelweis University was among the first institutions in the country to begin vaccination against coronavirus on 26 December, 2020. Since then, the university employees have been working practically every day at the four vaccination points: the Heart and Vascular Center, the Szent Rókus Clinical Block, the External Clinical Block and the 1st Department of Pediatrics”, pointed out Dr. Attila Szabó, President of the Clinical Center.

He added that there were weekends when nearly 500 staff members took part in the vaccination work. Initially, the institution vaccinated the staff of hospitals and health care providers as it was ordered by the government, as well as Semmelweis Citizens (health care workers, students) based on the vaccination order set up by the National Public Health Center. As Dr. Attila Szabó recalled, vaccination of residents and employees of social institutions and nursing homes began on 7 January 2021, which was the responsibility of Semmelweis University in Budapest. Vaccination of citizens referred by general practitioners has been ongoing since 4 February 2021, but it was also here that the vaccination of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers was first started on 27 March 2021, and where the vaccination of 12-15 year old children began on 11 June 2021.

“The number of vaccine shots administered by Semmelweis University staff members exceeded 300,000 on 13 June, meaning that more than 5% of vaccinations in Hungary were administered at Semmelweis University. Currently, those who registered for the vaccination are awaited at the Szent Rókus Clinical Block and at the Heart and Vascular Center. The vaccination of those under the age of 18 takes place at the 1st Department of Pediatrics”, Dr. Attila Szabó said.

At Semmelweis University, the university staff applies all vaccine types approved in Hungary. Looking back at the vaccination work of the recent months, Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector highlighted that the institution also plays a significant role in vaccinating people between 16-18 years and also people between 12-15 years since Friday. As regards the latter, 114 people have already been vaccinated by university staff within two days.

“The work has been ongoing since 26 December 2020. I have been working together with several colleagues who, in addition to their daily work, spent every weekend at the university vaccination centers so that the population may receive vaccine shots as rapidly as possible. After all, this is the only way to stop the epidemic”, Dr. Béla Merkely recalled.

In addition to patient care and coronavirus screening, Semmelweis University also performs exemplary work in the field of vaccinations. Staff members are involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic from the very first moment, whether it is about vaccine shots administered at vaccination points or in external locations, there is always someone taking care of the task, for which enormous thanks go the colleagues and the managers and staff members of the Clinical Center

– emphasized the Rector.