By Scott Carlson-NP Post
Frontline healthcare workers have been under the gun in the battle against COVID-19 since March. Now, frontline workers in North Platte will be protected from the virus.
Nurses, physicians and other workers who work closely with COVID-19 patients at Great Plains Health (GPH) in North Platte were administered the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
"Fortunate" was the word used by Emergency Room Charge Nurse Mel Pendelton when asked how it felt to be one of the first to receive the vaccine.
GPH received 975 doses of the vaccine on Tuesday. Officials say 490 of those doses will go to frontline workers at the hospital while the remaining doses will be distributed by West Central District Health Department to workers in the emergency medical services field as well as those who work in local care homes and assisted living facilities.
While the Moderna vaccine will likely be approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, vaccinations will likely not be available to the general public until some time in mid-2021.
Despite the assurance of scientists and healthcare professionals of the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines, recent polls show that many Americans will not get the vaccine even when it's available.
"We feel that this [getting the vaccine] is important enough that we've been vaccinated and we've looked forward to this," said Dr. Jim Smith, Director of the Emergency Department, who was among those vaccinated on Wednesday.
Dr. Smith asked those who are thinking they don't want to get vaccinated to talk to someone who has been sick enough with COVID to come to the emergency room.
"They'll tell you that this is the worst thing that they have gone through," remarked Dr. Smith.
Those receiving the vaccine today will require another dose in 21 days to assure maximum immunity.
GPH Pharmacy Director Jason North says the vaccines for the second dose have already been held back to assure that they are available for those who have already received the first dose. North says those doses will be shipped sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Additionally, North said the immune responses of fever, body aches and other mild side-effects are more common with the second dose. For that reason, the administration of the second dose to GPH staff and physicians will be staggered to prevent staff shortages.
Recipients of the vaccine will be monitored for potential side-effects, which will be reported using an app.