Today the first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine were administered to six frontline workers. The first doses were administered at 10 A.M.
“Today is a historic day,” Dr. Dafer Al-Haddadin, infectious disease doctor at Franciscan Health in Michigan City said.
After a short blessing was performed, healthcare workers lined up single file to sign in for their inoculation.
“The state has outlined an algorithm for our vaccines,” Vice President of Clinical Services Jill Nygren said. “We want to make sure people know that the vaccines are safe and hopefully begin to end this pandemic.”
The room was filled with six individual stations, where nurses administered the vaccine to the workers. The room was full of laughter and optimism amongst coworkers.
“I truly believe that if we band together, we will be able to celebrate next year’s Christmas like we used to,” Al-Haddadin said. “The amount of work that we’ve all had to do the past year has been insane, but hopefully with the help of the Pfizer vaccine, things will start getting back to normal.”
Although the approval by the FDA of Pfizer's vaccine has been a quick process, the staff at Franciscan Health assure the safety of the vaccine.
“We’ve never experienced an epidemic like this,” Al-Haddadin said. “The advancements of medical technology in the last several years have paved the way for the creation of a vaccine like this. It is the job of us in the medical profession and in the media to show people that there is an end in sight. This vaccine is safe, and the pandemic will soon be over.”
December 18, 2020 will be a day that history was made in the medical field. The administering of the COVID-19 vaccine will hopefully begin a downward trend of cases across the United States. The vaccine has given hope to those who previously had none to speak of.
“I have taken great pride in being able to participate in taking the vaccine,” Al-Haddadin said. “We have to do what we have to do to help whoever we can. It was the most important shot I’ve ever taken.”
Franciscan Health Michigan City plans on vaccinating around 110 healthcare workers on December 18 alone. Once the first rounds of vaccines are administered, Franciscan Health Michigan City will begin to administer vaccines to other healthcare workers across LaPorte and Starke Counties.
“We want to protect those who are helping the sick,” Al-Haddadid said. “Continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing. We all need to work together to defeat this virus. This will hopefully be the light at the end of the tunnel.”
To learn more about Franciscan Health, please visit https://www.franciscanhealth.org/.
