On Dec. 18, Riverwood Healthcare Center received its first shipment of 100 doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Per federal guidelines, Riverwood is offering the vaccine initially to its frontline healthcare workers.
âWe are happy to begin distributing the vaccine to our staff,â said Dr. David Taylor, chief medical officer. âThe side effects are minimal for most people. I received my vaccine shot on Dec. 18 and had a sore shoulder for 24 hours, felt a little fatigued the next day, but then felt fine. After the first shot, the vaccine is 50% effective in preventing COVID-19 and 95% effective within about a week after the second shot. So, it takes a little over a month to get full immunity from the vaccine.â Taylor added: âOur next shipment of vaccine, scheduled to arrive the last week in December, will include 55 doses that we will continue administering to those who have direct patient care duties or exposure. We look forward to the vaccine becoming widely
Riverwood Healthcare was among the stateâs frontline health care hospitals to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, getting 100 doses Dec. 18.
Per federal guidelines, Riverwood is offering the vaccine initially to its frontline health care workers. The next shipment of the vaccine is expected the last week of December with another 55 doses.
The priority for the vaccines is staff at Riverwood with direct patient-care duties or exposure.
âWe look forward to the vaccine becoming widely available to all who want it in the months ahead,â said Dr. David Taylor, Riverwoodâs chief medical officer.
Aitkin County Public Health will receive their first shipment containing 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine soon. Like Riverwood Healthcare Center, public health has been given direction on which groups to prioritize for initial vaccine allocations.