PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Allegheny Health Network began vaccinating its workers with the Pfizer COVID vaccine on Friday.

"They live in the community. They are in the community when they are not at work. They are not wearing their PPE when they are out in the community and their risk is real," said AHN's Chief Quality Officer Brian Parker.

Allegheny Health Network received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday and immediately started the vaccination process.

They say the vaccine is exceptionally safe and 95% effective. Frontline workers say they see it as a sign of hope.

"I got a text from our director of our emergency department that just was amazing. She said, 'this was the most uplifting day in 9 months. The excitement and hope was palpable. This is the first day most of us will drive home without crying all the way,'" said Chief Nurse Executive Claire Zangerle.

On Thursday, about 100 employees were vaccinated in a soft launch. Then Friday the big rollout happened.

"We are prioritizing the individuals who care for COVID patients in the COVID units and ICU, procedural areas and anyone who is considered high risk," Parker said.

The goal is to vaccinate all willing frontline workers by Jan. 4 and all hospital workers by the beginning of February. The process is staggered.

"Because of potential side effects, we don't want to cause staffing issues or have a large number of people from the same unit or same space in the hospital vaccinated on the same day," Parker said.

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So far, Parker told KDKA no one has experienced side effects. He believes they received enough doses for the true frontline workers.

"The issue we are going to be facing going into the new year is the ability for those manufacturers to meet demand," Parker said.

In the meantime, the health leaders ask you to keep following the mitigation efforts until the time comes for the public to be vaccinated.