Thomas Breen File Photo
Director of Public Health Nursing Jennifer Vazquez has resigned.
March 12 will be Jennifer Allis Vazquez’s last day as New Haven’s director of public health nursing.
Vazquez has played a prominent role in helping schools partially reopen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic is taking a toll across [the country] on frontline workers. We have been fighting it for almost a year,” said New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond.
Bond said that the resignation letter from Vazquez did not explain her reasons for resigning.
“We respect her wishes and do wish her the best in her future endeavors,” Bond said.
Bond promised continuity in the city’s vaccination plan. She said that other staff members will take on some of Vazquez’s responsibilities temporarily and that there was plenty of time to make the transition happen smoothly.
Vazquez could not be reached for comment.
Vazquez’s department helps conduct contact tracing after a student or staff member tests positive for Covid-19. School nurses are also responsible for assessing students who develop Covid-like symptoms during the school day.
The department has seen public scrutiny in recent days after reports of multiple nurse resignations made their way to the teacher’s union and Board of Education. According to city spokesman Gage Frank, 12 nurses have resigned since August 2020 and the department is currently hiring for eight vacancies. (Read more about the positions here.)
The city health department is working with temp agencies to fill gaps when nurses are sick or have left their position.
Bond pointed to high staff turnover in the health care field before and during the pandemic.
When asked whether she would like to see changes like higher wages or fewer hours to decrease this turnover, Bond said she just wants the pandemic to end.
“In an ideal world, I wish we were not in a pandemic. We all as health care professionals have a responsibility when it’s our turn to step up. This is definitely not a job for the weary,” Bond said.