COVID-19 POD Team, Putnam County Department of Health

• Maria Peralta, Public Health Nurse Bilingual; Arline Arias-Revilla, Health ED Office Assistant II Bilingual; Douglas Aucoin, Registered Professional Nurse; Jeanette Baldanza, Public Health Nurse; Nina Battista, EI Services Coordinator; Milena Berardi, Fiscal Clerk Typist; Christine Brady, Health Program-Water Testing; Connie Bueti, Bioterror Health Plan Coordinator; Marianne Burdick, Assoc Public Health Sanitarian; Noemi Caraballo, Nursing Office Assistant II Bilingual; Laura Chapman, Public Health Technician; Nancy Collier, Fiscal Technician; Alexa Contreras, Assistant Public Health EDC II Bilingual; Andrea DeMarchi, Public Health Sanitarian; Victoria DiLonardo, Sr. Public Health Prgm Assistant; Anthony Fricchione, Associate Public Health Eng; Elaine Garay, EI Services Coordinator Bilingual; Rebeca Garcia, Public Health Nurse Bilingual; Dylan Hoellger, Associate Public Health Eng; Susan Hoffner, Assistant Public Health EDC II ; Alison Kaufman, Epidemiologist; Valerie Kurtz, EI & Preschool Supervisor; Marianne Larm, Principal Account Clerk; Mitchell Lee, SR Public Health Sanitarian; Diane Liscia, Public Health Nurse II; Sarah Doyle, Public Health Corp Local Coord; Diane McCormack, EI Senior Clerk; Mary McCormack, Public Health Program Assistant; Jane Meunier, Principal Clerk/Conf Secretary to the Comm; Susan Moore, Clerk-Water; Maryann Morris, EI Pre-School Program; Theresa Nemeth, Principal Account Clerk; Michael Nesheiwat, Commissioner of Health; Tatiana Ochoa, EI Services Coordinator Bilingual; Emily Olenius, Public Health Program; Joseph Paravati, Public Health Engineer; Margaret Yurus, EI Services Coordinator; Brian Stevens, Assoc Pub Health Sanitarian; Shanna Siegel, Supervisor Public Health Educator; Denise Sheeran, Public Health Nurse II; Lisa Seymour, Public Health Sanitarian II; Shawn Rogan, Director of Environmental Health Svces; Kim Roberts, Public Health Program Assistant; Daniel Reis, Public Health Sanitarian; Gene Reed, PR Env Health Engineer Aide; Jean Ralston, Senior Public Health Nurse; Lesliann Piraino, Public Health Sanitarian; Vincent Perrin, Public Health Sanitarian; Kathleen Percacciolo, Supervisor Public Health Nurse.

The Putnam County Department of Health COVID-19 POD team answered the call to ensure the health and safety of Putnam residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health department staff prepared months in advance and were ready to implement Point of Dispensing (POD) operations beginning January 2021, eventually providing over 21,000 doses of vaccine at Putnam County PODs. This monumental effort involved staff from the entire health department performing a variety of jobs, ranging from traffic control and data entry, to vaccinations, post-vaccination monitoring and more. They did this all cheerfully and while completing their usual work. The team promoted vaccination before, during, and after clinics. Each team member also provided education and answered questions to help residents in their decision to receive a vaccine. Health department PODs were the only mass vaccination sites in Putnam County. Residents consistently complimented staff efficiency and helpfulness. The COVID-19 POD team exemplified commitment to public health.