Many thanks to Centra Hospital for arranging for our front line workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. While Dr. York received her vaccine this morning, she held a picture of her beloved grandmother, Grandma Dee, who recently passed from complications of COVID-19. Dr. York was one of our first providers lined up to get the vaccine. She understands the importance of protecting herself but also the immense responsibility she has to protect her loved ones and our patients from contracting COVID.
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are extremely effective and very well researched. The research on mRNA vaccines began in the late 1980’s, and our world is very fortunate that the COVID virus- and its spike proteins- lent itself perfectly to this type of vaccine. These vaccines, along with other similar ones still in the trial phase, were trialed on almost 250,000 people. That is far more than many previous vaccines. Over 2,000,000 doses of vaccine have already been given in the US and more than 4,500,000 doses worldwide. This vaccine is safe and it is lifesaving. We look forward to the day we can start offering it to our patients. We are hoping that exciting announcement will come later this winter. Until then, we will continue to provide the best care we can for our communities in the safest way possible. Please wear your masks, continue to socially distance yourself, and please stay home and away from others if you feel ill. There is a light at the end of this tunnel, and it starts with this vaccine.
