Intermountain Healthcare Workers Get Second Dose Of Vaccine
Jan 6, 2021, 4:45 PM | Updated: Jan 7, 2021, 12:33 am
(KSL-TV)
MURRAY, Utah – Utah health care workers who got their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine three weeks ago, are now getting their second dose.
Caregivers at Intermountain Healthcare talked Wednesday about reactions to the shot and how they are picking up the pace of vaccinations.
MEDIA ALERT: Nearly 25K @Intermountain caregivers have been vaccinated for #COVID19. Many are receiving their 2nd dose this week. A press briefing will be held today at 11 am, MT, to update media on distribution efforts at Utah's largest health system. https://t.co/VsqwhuOgSq
— Jess Gomez (@Jess_Intermtn) January 6, 2021
Utah is still in Phase 1 of the roll-out, vaccinating healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents, and first responders. A couple of nurses who received their second doses said the atmosphere of hope is growing.
“I’m really excited that I’ve had the opportunity to get both doses,” said Monte Roberts, an ICU nurse at LDS Hospital who got his second dose of Pfizer vaccine Tuesday. “I’m tired,” he said. “I haven’t had any side effects that have been significant other than a little bit of a sore arm like I had last time.”
“This morning, I woke up with a little bit of a headache. I took a couple of ibuprofen, and that really did the trick,” said Sophie Woodbury, a surgical nurse with Intermountain Healthcare. “So, overall I would say pretty mild side effects and nothing that I’m concerned about.”
The vaccine gave her a shot of confidence. “I feel a little bit more relief. I feel more protected, and, I feel more encouraged for the future.”
Dr. Tamara Sheffield, the medical director of community health and prevention, said they expected as many as 4% who receive the vaccine may get a fever. They have not seen that, so far. “We expect though to see more individuals once they get their second dose, have the symptoms that may keep them off work,” said Sheffield.
They are strategically vaccinating employees in case some need to stay home. “Usually, symptoms tend to only last about one to two days, at the most,” said Sheffield.
She had some advice for those who fear the side effects. “Do your research,” said Roberts. “Ask some questions and get out there and look at what’s been stated, and talk to people.”
Intermountain Healthcare has now vaccinated 25,000 employees and a total of 60,000 people have been vaccinated statewide.
According to Sheffield, Intermountain Healthcare received less vaccine than they initially expected and they’ve recently picked up the pace of vaccinations. “We will ramp up as we are given more vaccine, and we will have the capacity to keep doing it more and better as we keep learning the process,” she said.