Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City received a shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines today (Dec. 15), and 10 staff members were vaccinated.
The first person to receive one was Jennifer Holt, 44, of Festus, a nurse clinician for the emergency department.
“It was an honor to be the first nurse in this community to get the vaccination,” she said.
Holt said she was not nervous about receiving the first dose of the two-dose vaccine.
“I have full faith in this,” she said. “It didn’t hurt.”
Holt’s vaccination was met with cheers and applause from co-workers.
“I think it’s important for everyone to get the vaccine so we can minimize the transmission of this virus and protect others in this community,” Holt said.
The second person vaccinated at Mercy Jefferson today was Dr. Karthik Iyer, 40, of Frontenac, the hospital’s chief medical officer and intensive-care unit medical director.
“I didn’t feel it at all,” he said.
Iyer said it was remarkable to have a vaccine developed so quickly after the start of the pandemic.
The third person at the hospital to get the vaccine was Dr. Rachel Edwards, 43, of Festus, an emergency room physician.
“I am happy, happy, happy,” she said.
Mercy Jefferson was expected on Wednesday to continue administering the vaccines to hospital staff, vaccinating two staff members every five minutes for 12 hours a day, said William Kannon, director of pharmacy services.
He said Mercy Jefferson has about 2,006 employees and it will take about 10 days to give the first dose of the vaccine to all willing employees.
Mercy spokesman Joe Poelker said the Mercy health network, which includes Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas, received 24,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Poelker said staff are being offered the vaccine but are not required to take it.
Health Department waits for Moderna vaccine
The Jefferson County Health Department does not expect to receive any of the Pfizer vaccines being shipped across the country and the state this week.
However, Health Department officials hope to receive the Moderna vaccine once it is approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said Jeana Vidacak, public health preparedness coordinator for the Health Department.
Vidacak said the Health Department does not have the proper refrigerators to store the Pfizer vaccine.
“We don't have the capacity to do the ultra-cold storage,” she said. “It's packaged in a way that we could accept it, but we would have a very short turnaround window to administer it.”
The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored around -70 degrees Celsius, and the Moderna around -20 degrees Celsius.
“We currently have storage capabilities for all our regular immunizations or regular vaccines, and the Moderna vaccine falls into that category,” Vidacak said.
Since the Moderna vaccine is still awaiting FDA approval, Vidacak said there has been no word about when the Health Department might receive it.
Vidacak also said she didn’t know how much of the vaccine the Health Department would receive when it’s available.
Once the Health Department receives the Moderna vaccine, it plans to hold large drive-thru events for the public, hopefully at the end of January, Vidacak said.
She said the vaccine requires a second dose 28 days after the first one.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams said many vaccinations will be free, but health care providers could charge up to $25 to administer each one.
Vidacak said Monday that Health Department officials had not decided whether the vaccine will be free.
She said the Health Department has been working on a distribution plan since July and she’s excited to know vaccines will soon be here.
“Every time we get a step further to getting better control over this pandemic it is always good. I think vaccines are that next big step we've all been waiting for,” she said.
County COVID-10 stats
The Jefferson County Health Department reported 199 more COVID-19 cases today (Dec. 15), bringing the total number of cases in the county to 14,822 since the first ones were reported in March.
The county currently has 5,645 active cases, the highest number since the pandemic began, the Health Department reported.
Of the county’s total coronavirus cases, 1,053 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County.
Of the 111 COVID-19 deaths in the county, 58 have been from long-term care facilities, the Health Department reported.
Preventive steps
The county remains at the red level on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system, for the sixth consecutive week.
Red is the highest level on the Health Department’s four-color system and indicates widespread and uncontrolled transmission of the virus.
To control the spread of the virus, health officials urge residents to follow the county’s face mask order, which requires residents to wear face masks while in public spaces when social distancing cannot be maintained. There are no fines or penalties for violators, though.
The Health Department also stresses the importance of taking additional steps to stem the spread of the virus, including limiting nonessential travel, avoiding crowds, social distancing, good hand-washing and staying home if you are sick.
