ER Wait Time: 01:13 | If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

COVID-19 Patient and Visitor Information

COVID Vaccine Information

Where are the other vaccination sites in my area?

We encourage you to be vaccinated at your earliest opportunity. Your county and state Department of Health websites will have more information on vaccination sites and availability, and we encourage you to check these often:

When can I get vaccinated?

Because there is a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control is making recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first. Find out more about the process.

Vaccinations for health care providers and our community

At this time, we are not able to schedule any COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

COVID-19 Testing

Suburban Community Hospital is not a COVID-19 testing site. There are many places in our community where you can go for COVID-19 testing, including retail pharmacies and local health departments. Please visit, https://www.montcopa.org/3744/COVID-19-Testing for additonal information.

We ask that you do not visit our Emergency Department (ED) if you are only seeking a COVID-19 test.

Should I get vaccinated?

In order to fight this pandemic, it’s important to use every tool we have to defend ourselves. In addition to masks and social distancing, vaccines work with your immune system to give your body a better chance of fighting off the virus if you do get it. The CDC further explains the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.

What if I'm immunocompromised?

Vaccination is a personal decision. If you are immunocompromised or have concerns about receiving the vaccine and its side effects, make an appointment to discuss these concerns with your healthcare provider. The CDC has more information available for people who are immunocompromised on its website.

What if I'm pregnant? Do I still get vaccinated?

Pregnant patients may be vaccinated, but it’s important to talk with your provider to help you decide whether vaccination is right for you. Vaccination for disease such as COVID-19, which has been authorized for use under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), often demonstrates greater benefit than risk. Here is more information on COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The vaccine came out so quickly. Is it safe?

Many people are concerned about the vaccine’s safety because of how quickly it was developed. The scientific and medical community are unanimously agreed on the safety of the vaccine and you can read more about the benefits being vaccinated. The COVID vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, which do not contain a live virus and cannot infect the vaccinated person. Learn more about mRNA vaccines on the CDC website.

Can I get COVID from the vaccine?

No, you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccines being produced in the United States contain no live virus. Research continues regarding vaccination and antibody testing. Get the COVID-19 facts from the CDC.

Additional vaccination sites

In Pennsylvania, the best way to follow the rollout of the vaccine is to stay tuned to the Department of Health website which is constantly being updated. You’ll soon find vaccine locations in Pennsylvania, such as pharmacies, doctor’s offices, urgent care centers, and health centers. Currently, there is no specific timeline identified for the general public.

Whom to call with questions

We understand you may have questions about the vaccine, and you may have some concerns as well. We will continue to provide accurate, up-to-date resources and guidance from the State Department of Health as well as the Centers for Disease Control. We also encourage you to talk to your own primary care provider about whether vaccination is appropriate for you.

If you have concerns or questions about COVID-19 or are exhibiting respiratory symptoms, please contact your primary care provider.

Pfizer and Moderna vaccine FAQ and information

Read these facts sheets to get answers to your frequently asked questions about the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines:

For Medical Records questions, please click here.

While we understand the important role that family members and visitors play in a patient’s healing process, our new policies (which align with many other area hospitals and health systems) aim to balance the needs of patients while maintaining a safe environment for all.

We will continue to monitor this situation. The need for visitor restrictions will be re-evaluated regularly.

Please know that:

  • We are taking all necessary measures and precautions to protect the safety of our patients and staff.
  • We specialize in the care of patients with complex illnesses and have experience with managing and containing novel viruses.
  • This is a rapidly evolving situation and we suggest you check out the latest updates on the CDC website as well as the website of your state health department.
  • Hospital visitor policies have been updated to reflect national efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. This policy may change at any time due to the rapidly evolving situation.
    • Visitors to patients at end of life will be allowed at the discretion of the care team.
  • Hospital entry points will be limited to enable screening of patients and approved visitors. Approved visitors who show any signs of illness, including mild symptoms, should not visit patients in the hospital or accompany patients to the emergency department.

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19

What is our hospital doing to protect patients?

  • We are screening patients with symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath and with a history of travel within the past 14 days to communities with widespread or sustained community transmission of the coronavirus.
  • If we have a confirmed or potential patient with COVID-19, we will institute standard infectious disease protocols, as well as additional measures, to prevent the potential spread of the virus. All healthcare providers who have contact with the patient will use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

How concerned should I be about the coronavirus?

  • As of now, the seasonal flu remains a significant health risk.
  • Coronaviruses can cause the common cold and pneumonia. Most people infected with the novel coronavirus have mild cold symptoms. A small fraction of people, however, may require more intensive care. We understand your concern about protecting yourself from respiratory diseases.
  • We have launched an online self-checker for the novel coronavirus in the form of a bot nicknamed Robby. Robby walks users through symptoms and then gives recommendations if medical care is needed. Robby is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment purposes.

START SELF-CHECK ASSESSMENT

What can I do to protect myself?

It is understandable to feel uncertain or anxious during a public health crisis, and we need to remember to avoid making assumptions about others’ perceived symptoms or any characteristics of identity. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent the novel coronavirus infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

Here are the current CDC recommendations to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

  • Take everyday preventive actions for respiratory infections, such as avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home when sick, and washing hands often.
  • Avoid traveling to places with widespread or sustained community transmission of the coronavirus. A good place for reliable travel information can be found on the CDC’s travel advisory page.

Should I wear a mask?

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

Where can I learn more?

Concerned patients and family members should talk with their healthcare provider.

You can also find more information about the virus from these websites.