Marian Regional Medical Center offers vaccinations to patients coming through ER

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Marian Regional Medical Center is giving patients more opportunities to get vaccinated.

As the number of COVID-19 cases rise throughout the region,

"Everyone knows we’ve seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases but in our community and also at our hospital and many of them are unvaccinated probably greater than 90 percent," said chief medical officer Dr. Chuck Merrill of Marian Regional Medical Center.

Staff at the medical center are now offering greater access to the vaccine.

"The hospital is offering vaccines for patients that are not symptomatic and have tested negative but have not been vaccinated," said physical therapist Paul Paravato of the Marian Regional Medical Center.

Staff are hoping this will allow patients to get the vaccine more easily while they’re here.

"As we vaccinate the community the pandemic gets better and eventually simmers down and goes away but without vaccination it probably won’t ... because we see these variance like Delta," said Merrill.

By offering the vaccine here at the hospital, doctors are hoping they can share information while they're being treated.

"In the hospital we have credibility we can explain things … we can maybe a lay some of their fears some of the things they’ve heard that may not be true," said Merrill.

The COVID-19 vaccines will be administered with physician guidance to those eligible.

"I’m excited about it because the more the people get vaccinated the less likelihood they’ll end up in the hospital and we can hopefully get our lives back to normal an open everything up again," said Pavarato.

Doctors hope everyone coming in will choose to get vaccinated, and share the experience with their friends and family.