FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has arrived at Broward Health Imperial Point, and their healthcare workers will get the chance to receive it on Wednesday.
Frontline workers at the hospital will no longer have to wait for a COVID-19 vaccine.
“This Moderna vial has 10 doses in it,” Dave Lacknauth, Executive Director of Pharmacy Services at Broward Health, said. “When you look at the way the drugs work, we are going to give you the medication — let’s say it’s today that you get the medication. What that will do is that will trigger your body to create an immune response. Your body is going to start to build antibodies.”
Several thousand doses will be administered to the doctors and nurses on Wednesday afternoon.
“I’ve been on the front lines battling this since the onset,” Dr. Greg Dubrovich said. “More importantly, you know, getting this vaccine is not so much necessarily for myself. It’s more I have a 16-month-old at home. I have two older parents that I see every few weeks. The vaccine is important to get, not only for yourself, but for your family, friends, neighbors, so it’s a very special day, special occasion.”
Lissette Gutierrez, a registered nurse, was the first employee to receive the newly-approved vaccine. She said her family is her reason to get vaccinated.
“I’m excited. I feel like it’s my duty to get vaccinated,” she said. “They worry about me coming here every day, so this is the reason why I’m doing this. I want to make sure that they know I’m protected.”
When it comes to the Moderna vaccine, it has been approved for anyone 18 and older to receive it. The company has started to test the vaccine on people who are 12 to 17 years old.
The Moderna vaccine is 94% effective for preventing symptomatic COVID-19. The vaccine reduces the risk of getting severe COVID-19 disease.
After receiving the first dose, those receiving the vaccine will wait 28 days to receive the booster.
“We know there are going to be some side effects like headache, fatigue,” Lacknauth said. “We know that those side effects are there, so to make it tolerable for you as a patient to receive the vaccine, they broke it up into two doses.”
Meanwhile, frontline workers said they welcome the vaccine knowing the peace of mind it will bring.
“It’s been a tough nine months,” Dr. Nadav Fields said. “Sometimes, I worked 30 days in a row at medical facilities, mostly here. A lot of anxiety, ups and downs, and I’m very excited to get the vaccine.”
Those searching for a COVID-19 testing site on Christmas Eve can be tested at the Miami Beach Convention Center and at Tropical Park.
Testing at the Miami Beach Convention Center is by appointment only, and they open their doors at 8 a.m. The Tropical Park site will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
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