COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: UPMC Frontline Workers Administered With First Doses of Coronavirus Vaccine
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Five frontline healthcare workers at UPMC were vaccinated Monday morning with the first doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine.
Healthcare leaders in the company say this is an important day in the fight against COVID-19.
The vaccine arrived around 9:00 on Monday morning.
It was just a simple UPS van that pulled into the garage at UPMC Childrens Hospital, but what was inside was so much more important.
The first vaccinations happened around 11:00 a.m.
Five frontline workers from various aspects of care were given the vaccine. It took about 15 minutes to administer all five shots.
Health leaders believe this could be the start of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
"I think we are beginning to see the end," UPMC Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology Dr. Graham Snyder said.
Now each of these employees will be back in 21 days for the next shot that's part of the vaccine.
The employees will make sure to continue using all safety precautionary measures.
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The healthcare company said it received 975 doses at Children's Hospital and there is potential for three more hospitals to get doses as well.
UPMC said high priority employees will be the first to receive this vaccine.
It expects to provide a vaccine for all workers who want it by the end of January.
Allegheny Health Network provided this statement on when they could receive the vaccine.
"We don't have confirmation on timing as of yet. We expect to receive shipments of the vaccine for all of our hospitals in the next day or so. But still waiting on timing."
