More hospitals await COVID-19 vaccine delivery scheduled for Thursday
Share
Updated: 5:48 PM EST Dec 16, 2020
Share
Updated: 5:48 PM EST Dec 16, 2020
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
OCTOBER, ONE PERSON IN OUR STATE HAS DIED. KENNY: AS SOME HOSPITALS AROUND OUR STATE BEGIN GIVING OUT COVID-19 VACCINES TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS OTHERS ARE PREPARING FOR THEIR OWN DELIVERIES. NOVANT HEALTH AND HUGH CHATHAM MEMORIAL ARE EXPECTED TO GET THEIR FIRST DOSES TOMORROW. WXII’S JUSTIN SHRAIR IS LIVE OUTSIDE NOVANT HEALTH FORSYTH MEDICAL CENTER WITH HOW THEY’RE PREPARING. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? JUSTIN BOTH NOVANT HEALTH AND : HUGH CHATHAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SAY WHILE GETTING THESE DOSES OUT IS GREAT NEWS, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND STOP THE SPREAD. NOVANT HEALTH SAYS THEY ARE PREPARED TO WELCOME NEARLY 7,000 DOSES OF PFIZER’S COVID-19 VACCINE ON THURSDAY AND WILL DISTRIBUTE IT TO THREE OF THEIR FACILITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA INCLUDING FORSYTH MEDICAL CENT IN WINSTON-SALEM. >> WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THOSE HIGH RISK UNITS, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS SCREENING ASSESSMENT CENTERS, ICU’S WHERE WE HAVE COVID PATIENTS STARING WITH THOSE FOLKS AND THEN WORKING THROUGH THE PATIENT FACING TEAM MEMBERS. IT DR. DAVID PRIEST SAYS THE : -- JUSTIN DR. DAVID PRIEST : SAYS THE HEALTH SYSTEM HAS PURCHASED ULTRA COLD FREEZERS AND HAS THE STORAGE CAPACITY FOR MORE THAN 5 HUNDRED THOUSAND OF PFIZER’S DOSES. BOTH THE PFIZER VACCINE AND THE MODERNA VACCINE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT SOON, ARE MRNA VACCINE >> THINK OF MRNA AS A VERY FRAGILE INSTRUCTION MANUAL THAT YOUR CELLS WILL USE TO MAKE A PROTEIN THAT A COVID VIRUS USES TO ENTER INTO YOUR CELLS. THAT PROTEIN CAUSES YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO RESPOND AND PROTECT YOU FROM COVID. JUSTIN: ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY IN ELKIN, AT HUGH CHATHAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL DR. JONATHAN SNYDER AND NURSE MARY BLACKBURN SAY THEY ARE ALSO READY FOR THE DELIVERY OF NEARLY 1000 DOSES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE ON THURSDAY. >> WE HAVE AN ULTRA COLD FREEZER THAT WE HAVE HAD AND WE HAVE HAD IT UP AND RUNNING AND MONITORING THE TEMPERATURES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BLACKBURN WHO HAS BEEN A NURSE -- WEEKS. >> BLACKBURN, WHO HAS BEEN A NURSE FOR 33 YEARS SAYS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VACCINE IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IS AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT. >> IT IS A TRUE TESTAMENT ON WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE PUT THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO IT. >> BUT AS COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO RISE DR. DAVID PRIEST, DR. JONATHAN SNYDER AND NURSE MARY BLACKBURN ALL SAY IT’S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO FIGHT THIS DISEASE AND ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO DO THEIR PART. >> WE HAVE REALLY GOT TO TRY TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING.