Emotions run high as frontline clinicians receive COVID vaccination

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Now that the first COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the United Kingdom and the United States, health care workers are in the first priority group eligible for vaccination. Medscape asked doctors, nurses, and other health care workers what they thought when they received the bullet. Here are a few of their answers.

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Dan O’Carroll, MB ChB, MRCS (ED), FRCEM, Emergency Medicine, Walsall Manor Hospital, United Kingdom

My feelings about the injection: Relief that there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, and we can begin to think of returning to more normal times without the horrible and ongoing death toll that this disease has caused us. Opportunities for my parents, in the future, to be able to be in close touch and plug their grandchildren. Relief on a personal level, after avoiding contracting COVID so far, there was still the problem that I could be one of the unfortunate ones succumbing to the disease. this is awful. And a real understanding of the remarkable achievement of the research scientists who have been vaccinated for a disease we never heard of about 12 months ago.

Taison Bell, MD, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

I have spoken to my children about the coronavirus, that it has caused so many problems in the country and in the world, and that it is having a detrimental effect on the black community and the Latino community and numbers other not enough. I have told them that I am worried about being caught or spreading the virus to them or their grandmother. All of this has been a pressure on me as well as the stress of caring for patients – some of the sickest patients I have ever taken in my life. Those complex feelings came to an end when that vaccine went into my arms. I had this feeling that there is a way to build this now, we can finally turn the corner on this. Many of the things that I have been concerned about – to some extent at least – could be better. It’s like I didn’t realize how heavy this was until I noticed the pressure coming off a bit. It was an amazing time, one I will never forget.

Storm Dutton, PA, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington

I was wondering how this vaccine could save my father. He died just 4 weeks before his release, from COVID-19 respiratory failure at 48 years of age. I thought about how unhelpful I felt knowing that I am a licensed medical provider and I couldn’t save. This is my hopeful hope for everyone else, until the loss I bear with me now. I was thinking about seeing all the COVID patients in the ED without fear of taking it home to my family and friends, inevitably. I was thinking about the future; hospitalization of depressed and emergency patient numbers declines as the vaccine reduces exposures and builds herd immunity.

Jennifer Dolan, DDS, University of Florida, Jacksonville

I feel fortunate to have had access to the vaccine so early as I am 26 weeks pregnant and working in the high risk area of ​​high exposure. I am now 24 hours after administration and had no symptoms other than a soft injection site soreness.

Julio Miranda, MD, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

It was very emotional. I was very pleased but very grateful. As an ICU doc I thought about all the patients I have been caring for in these 9 months of pandemic disease. The suffering, the families. My hope is that everyone gets the vaccine. There is hope at the end of tonight.

Courtney Gilliam, MD, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Washington

As a Black parent, I feel the pressure of dealing with a new vaccine and how complex that can be, especially for communities that have experienced the ways in which racism is being tackled. affecting our health care system,. I understand why people have questions and doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine. To educate myself and others, I turn to evidence-based medicine and peer-reviewed materials. Having reviewed the available information about the Pfizer vaccine and really understood the development process that has gone through it, I feel confident that this is the right thing to do.

Alyson Quigley, MD, VA New York Harbor Health System

I thought I would cry with relief when I last received the vaccine but instead I felt giddy and joyful.

Kaz Margulies, EMT, Long Island, New York

I wanted to get it as my part in overcoming this deadly disease. Before I got it, I was a little anxious because of unknown. But I know in my heart that science needs to be trusted and this was the right thing to do.

S. Das Pamnani, MD, PhD, Perry Memorial Hospital, Princeton, Illinois

I am delighted to have received the Pfizer COVID vaccine. I work in a rural hospital and see patients in the hospital as well as in a clinic. COVID death rates are around 2% in our small Bureau County, which is appalling. I am delighted and hope that the staff and members of the community will be vaccinated. I cannot wait for the vaccine to be available to everyone in the community.

Justin Dubin, MD, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Florida

The mask couldn’t hide my mind today!

Natasha D. Benavides, PA-C, Davis Health System, Elkins, West Virginia

Me: I’m going to wait out the first few rounds of the covid vaccine and see how it plays out.

Also me the minute our hospital received the vaccine: SHOOOOOT ME UP !!

I am doing this for my newborn baby. I do this so that my older babies can have a normal life and be able to see their grandparents again. I am doing this so that we can go to church safely again. I do this so that I can take better care of my patients and their families.

Let’s be honest. We all have a bit of a doubt about the vaccine, but I am reassured that the GREATEST INSTRUMENTS IN THE WORLD are working together on this vaccine to help protect everyone. Without a political agenda. No microchips. There are no subtle claims in making everyone infertile. Just human beings with the same goal of keeping everyone LIVE, safe and healthy.

Hesitant last week, a little anxious this week, the anxiety and guilt about bringing something home is incredible. With lots of hope and whiskey prayers … here we are!

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