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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Eleven months after the first reported case of coronavirus in the United States, the first 10,000 doses of the Pfizer-Bionettech Covid-19 vaccine arrived at UF Health Jacksonville on Monday morning and the first 10 shots were quickly delivered to the emergency room and intensive care workers. Including the CEO of the Medical Center.
Pfizer’s COVID19 vaccine shipment from Michigan arrived at 9:15 a.m. The Jacksonville vaccine supply was transported in a freezer pack, along with 3 million other vials delivered nationwide.
CEO Leon Haley, who is also an emergency therapist, said staff gathered around the vaccination site in the lobby after the first shot arrived.
“This is a humble moment,” Haley said. “This is the beginning of a long struggle. We will still need to wear masks. We will still need to wash our hands. ”
Haley was followed by other doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other front-line staff who worked with COVID-19 patients. Everyone was asked to stay in the holding area for 15 minutes to observe any side effects, although nothing was expected.
“In a word, (I was honored),” said David. Said David Wuick. “I want people to understand that it’s safe.”
Nurse Daniel Parker overcame emotion after receiving the shot, seeing what the virus has done for her patients.
“Getting back to normal and potentially preventing some people from getting infected,” Parker said. “I’ve been working with these patients for a very long time and I can see what they can do.”
On Tuesday, employees at higher risk will be given 100 more doses, followed by more daily vaccinations until all front line employees are vaccinated. Employees do not need to be vaccinated but are “very encouraged”.
Asked what he would do after receiving both doses of Wayne Phillips vaccine, who works in IT at UF Health, said he wanted to go out to eat.
“I missed eating in public. I would go to a restaurant for a nice, good meal and hug my mother. I haven’t hugged my mother in a long time, “Phillips said.
UF Health expects to receive 10,000 more doses on Tuesday and will also deliver some vaccines to other hospitals in the area. Baptist Health News 4 told Jackson that its employees would begin vaccinating him next week.
The state is working to provide other vaccines to long-term care residents and staff as part of the first rollout of the vaccine.
The CDC says race, ethnicity are risk markers
According to the CDC, African Americans are four times more likely to be hospitalized for covid-19 infections than white Americans. And Covid-19 has twice the mortality rate of blacks compared to whites.
News4Jacks talked about the new vaccine in Jacksonville with African Americans who had mixed feelings about the shot.
Andre Williams said, “At the passing rate of many of us, I think we need it.”
“I’ll take it, but I’m not saying I’ll be the first to get it,” Lindsay Brookins said.
“I don’t think many African Americans would take it,” Kimberly Fuller said. “I personally, I don’t like to put anything in my body and don’t know exactly what it is.”
Community activist Ben Frasier said many African Americans may not easily trust the vaccine. He referred to the Tuscany syphilis study
“I think the experiments that have been done against black people in the past with regard to syphilis and Tuscigi airmen will be a reason for many people to be reluctant, hesitant or forbidden to take this vaccine.”
The first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine left Michigan on Sunday morning. Federal officials said the first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine will be stuck, arriving at 145 distribution centers on Monday, receiving an additional 425 sites on Tuesday, and the remaining 66 will ship on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
Additional shipments will be sent to the state every one to two weeks. It is expected that there will be limited supply for the first few weeks.
Florida, which has suffered 20,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the onset of the epidemic on Saturday, is expected to receive more than 179,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in its first shipment.
Florida. Government Ron Descentis said the Sunshine State would receive 180,000 doses. Florida’s five largest health systems, including UF Health in Jacksonville, will receive 100,000 doses. It is not clear if the doses were evenly distributed between hospitals.
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