The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine made its way to Washington County on Monday and the first vaccines were distributed at Memorial Community Hospital and Health System (MCH&HS) on Tuesday morning.
Following the Phase 1A, vaccinations went to health care personnel, including emergency medical technicians and staff. The first 20 staff members received their first dose of the vaccine.
Dr. Paula Thielen-Kocharov was among the first to receive the shot.
“I think this is our exit strategy, the only way we are going to get out of this,” she said.
ER nurse Pat Mauch also received her first dose of the vaccine.
"(Vaccinations) are a good deal," she said. “It's probably our best chance to protect everybody.”
Mauch also believes in wearing masks.
“Masking is incredibly important," she said. "It’s not perfect, but it’s the best thing we have. It protects people around you and not just you.”
Keala Roy, emergency department manager, was happy to see the first shipment of the vaccine arrive.
"We are hopeful that this helps to decrease the number of COVID-19 patients and need for hospitalization due to COVID-19," she said.
Roy said the first series went very well.
"We were able to vaccinate 20 employees and will continue to vaccinate over the next few weeks," she said. "We received 200 doses of vaccine with the first shipment.”
Roy said distribution order is based on state guidelines as well as internal tiers.
"We have determined that employees that take care of COVID patients will be first to receive the vaccine," she said.
At this time, MCH&HS will only be receiving the Moderna vaccine.
"We do not have the deep refrigeration needed for the Pfizer vaccine," Roy said.
The long-term care communities will be working with Three Rivers Public Health Department regarding vaccinations. The vaccine arrived at Three Rivers Public Health Department on Tuesday.
“We have been planning with our hospital partners and Ashland Pharmacy for the vaccine to arrive and are working with them to administer the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as we had doses become available. It is a very exciting time and a very fluid situation,” said Terra Uhing, executive director at Three Rivers Public Health Department, said.
The vaccine is not yet available to the general public. However, Uhing said the health department is working on locations for public vaccination clinics once the vaccine is more widely available.
