Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
VERNAL, Utah — 400 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine are being distributed to healthcare workers in the Vernal area. This includes the doses of the vaccine to the Indian Health Service.
TriCounty Health Department Public Information Officer Liberty Best reported no major adverse reactions have been reported so far.
While hospitals have been vaccinating frontline workers, the health department has been reaching out to private doctors.
Best said their response has been good.
“They were all excited because they work with the public,” Best said. “Physicians are at a little bit higher risk of contracting any kind of virus.”
Nurses who are administering the vaccine and emergency responders are also a priority for the TriCounty Health Department.
The area of roughly 60,000 people has had more than 2,200 positive COVID-19 tests since the pandemic began. Best said there has been a big uptick in cases in recent months.
That’s why she would like to see as many people as possible in Vernal and in surrounding areas get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The vaccine is actually the stepping stone in stopping this pandemic and creating real herd immunity. Herd immunity that comes from vaccines is a way of protecting other people, as well as protecting yourself,” Best said.
The department plans on having enough of the COVID-19 vaccine for Utah educators next month.