Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Administers First COVID-19 Vaccinces Published: 23 December 2020
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System’s first COVID-19 vaccines were administered on Tuesday, December 22 at Watauga Medical Center.
Occupational health nurse, Crystal Minton, RN, vaccinated Kevin Wolfe, MD, a pulmonologist who is treating COVID patients at the hospital, followed by Emergency Department nurse Madison Bakken, RN. “We feel so fortunate to be able to begin vaccinating our frontline workers who are taking care of COVID patients each day,” said Chuck Mantooth, President and CEO of ARHS. “Protecting them means they will stay healthy and continue to be available for the community.” There was an air of excitement in the room as Dr. Wolfe received his dose, and those within view erupted in applause. Many healthcare workers see these vaccinations as a first step in defeating this virus, and have a renewed sense of hope. When asked why Dr. Wolfe d
By Nick Masuda
nmasuda@postandcourier.com
The vaccine rollout will take months, and it could be next spring before the free and voluntary two-dose treatment is available to all of South Carolinaâs 5 million residents.
State health officials are prioritizing hospital workers and nursing home residents with the first 200,000 vaccines they expect to receive by the end of the year. Averting deaths is the overarching goal for the first vaccines, Department of Health and Environmental Control Interim Public Health Director Brannon Traxler told Greenville business leaders on Tuesday.
Pharmacist John Fowler fills doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at at Roper Hospital Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Charleston. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff
District reports four deaths, 221 new cases from over weekend
Staff reports
The Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District reported four deaths Monday; Case 6,445 (60 - 69), Case 4,673 (70 - 79), Case 6,222 (80+), and Case 7,858 (80+).
The district has 221 new cases to report from over the weekend. There were 61 cases reported Saturday, 35 cases Sunday, and 125 cases Monday. There are 87 Wichita County resident hospitalizations and 212 recoveries.
Hospitalizations:
Critical - 2
United Regional Health Care System reported as of Monday, they have a total of 88 COVID-positive or COVID-suspected patients. Of those, 24 are in critical care.