UCHealth in Colorado Springs receives 1st batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- UCHealth received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine Monday, marking a monumental step forward in the fight against COVID-19 in Southern Colorado.
"Think about it. This vaccine has come to the market quicker than virtually any in history," Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said.
It's one of 46 sites selected statewide to receive 3,900 of Colorado's 46,800 allotted doses of the drug.
"I want to say how exciting it is to see my friends, my colleagues, receiving this vaccine," El Paso County Public Health Medical Director Robin Johnson said.
Around 30 hospital workers, including nurses, respiratory therapists, environmental services technicians, emergency department staff and critical care physicians, became the first in El Paso County to receive the vaccine.
"I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself, whether that's cleaning a room, mopping a floor, grabbing lunch, and in this case taking the vaccine," Jeremy Hulsker, a registered nurse for UCHealth said.
Hospital officials said vaccine recipients will monitor for any potential symptoms in the days ahead. If all goes well, they'll receive a second dose of the drug in 21 days.
"You know as a diabetic with a pre-existing condition, I hope that people will, you know, maybe look at me and think, she did it and I'm going to do it as well," Cindy Ramberg, who works in the hospitals's ICU department, said.
The first 3,900 doses will be administered among hospital staff who are in the most frequent contact with COVID-19 patients. A second phase of distribution is expected to follow soon after.
The hospital hopes to have all vaccines distributed before Christmas.
Penrose-St. Francis Health Services is also anticipating 1,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. A representative for the hospital confirmed that they expect to receive vaccinations this week, as soon as Tuesday.
