MADISON, Wis.– UnityPoint Health Meriter frontline staff had to wait about a week longer than other Madison district hospitals to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but as of Monday afternoon, that wait is over.
Am Pfizer # COVID19 the vaccine arrived @uph_meriter this afternoon – a week in a row #MadisonWi hospitals received the first load. Workers expected to receive the first dose after it melts. # News3Now
: UnityPoint- Meriter Health pic.twitter.com/oAgTvAUn4v
– Gabriella Bachara (@GabbyBachara) 21 December 2020
“I can’t tell you how exciting we are,” said Chief Medical Officer Pam Wetzel. “We are celebrating. It’s real time for us. ”
The first passengers of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrived last Monday, a full week after UW Health received its first passengers and six days after SSM Health.
“We were expecting it last week. We didn’t get it, ”said Wetzel. “Our staff were upset. They didn’t understand why other people were getting it. ”
Like other health care facilities, employees with the highest COVID-19 exposure are first line.
“We are focusing on our ICU nurses and our ICU physicians who go in there and the other areas where we care for COVID patients,” Wetzel said.
ICU registered nurse Mary Jo Steffes was lucky number one.
“It’s a good day,” said Steffes.
After spending ten months at the bedside of COVID-19 patients, Steffes hopes this scene will be the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Unfortunately, I have seen more deaths now than I have in the 40 years I have ever worked here and many years in the ICU, which is heartbreaking,” Steffes said.
Wetzel agrees that today ‘s special delivery was worth the wait.
“We’re moving forward, we have the vaccine and we couldn’t be happier about that,” Wetzel said.
Meriter will use these first loads for the first dose, but they couldn’t tell us how much of that. The second required doses will come in a week or two.
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