A number of first responders took an important step in the battle against COVID-19 on Tuesday, when they received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine at the Etowah County Health Department.
However, the department's nurse supervisor, Jennifer Weeks, cautioned that this is the first step — it will take a second dose of the vaccine and a couple of weeks before people should consider themselves protected from the virus.
"You are not Superman," she said, after this first shot in the arm. "You still need to observe all the guidelines" to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
First responders and health care professionals were lined up outside the health department before the vaccinations were slated to start at 8:30 a.m. Weeks said the department had about 500 doses to distribute.