LDS Hospital Workers Among First In Utah To Get COVID-19 Vaccine

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – There are certain moments when you know history is being made and Tuesday was of them at Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Inside a small room at the hospital, some of Utah’s medical workers started receiving the first COVID-19 vaccinations.

“I’m super excited to be a part of this today,” said Monte Ellis.

Ellis, an ICU nurse at LDS Hospital, was the first to get the vaccine.

Here are the first four @Intermountain nurses who received the #covid19 vaccine today, along with the nurse who gave them the shot and @DrAngelaCDunn. We’re doing a story on this for @KSL5TV at 5 and 6. #ksltv pic.twitter.com/s6m9CwDPne

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) December 15, 2020

He called it more than just another shot.

“It provides an opportunity that this pandemic and this frustration we’re all going through as a community and as individuals and as families and as patients, that we can beat this and we’re going to come through this together,” Ellis said. “My faith is in the faith of research. And my faith is in the physicians and all of the people that have done so many hours to bring us where we are.”

It is a triumph of humanity.

In less than a year, a vaccine was developed for a virus that impacted our daily lives.

“It is amazing that a year ago, we were at the Utah Department of Health talking to the CDC and learning about a virus that was originally spread animal to human, and then human to human,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn. “And now we have a vaccine. It is a momentous day.”

Health care workers said having the vaccine in Utah and starting the inoculation process meant Tuesday was finally a good day for those in the medical field.

“In the last 10 months, there have not been very many hopeful days. There have been a lot of days where it was really a grind and a lot of days that were really discouraging,” said nurse Sophia Woodbury, who was among the first to get the vaccine. “I can see a lot of people in the audience nodding, but today is a hopeful day.”

Even more than just Tuesday, though, it showed what can be accomplished when we work together.

Not everyone agrees on the dangers of COVID-19 or even wearing masks to stop the spread of the virus, but this vaccine will benefit everyone and, hopefully, end this pandemic.

“I’m excited to get the vaccine so I can protect myself, my patients, my coworkers and my community,” said nurse Amanda Vicchrili. “It’s a great day.”