Children's Hospital of Illinois Bloomington issued the following announcement on Dec. 26.
On Thursday, the first OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center Mission Partners (employees) received COVID-19 vaccines.
Emily Burns, MSN, RN-BC, Manager, ICU/PCU, was the first Mission Partner at OSF Little Company of Mary to receive the COVID vaccine.
“I got the vaccine to be able to protect myself and my family and all those around me. Based on my experience the last couple months being in the ICU it’s been quite rough, so it’s exciting to be getting back to a more normal life hopefully in the next few months. I’m feeling great, I’m excited. The atmosphere in the hospital is really exciting today,” Burns said.
She continued: “I would just encourage everyone that can get the vaccine to get the vaccine as soon as possible so we can kind of all get back to our normal routine.”
Dr. Jilma Patrick, fellowship-trained breast surgeon, OSF Little Company of Mary, was also among the first Mission Partners to be vaccinated. She sees this significant milestone as a glimmer of hope.
“I was excited to get the vaccine because I feel that, especially as a healthcare worker, we have to be able to use all the possible tools available for us to really try to stop the spread of the pandemic. Some of the tools include wearing a mask, having 6-feet distance around people, and getting the vaccine. I got the vaccine today and I feel great, and I’m just really excited that this finally came into a reality because it’s really important for us to look at all the different avenues to really try to stop the spread of the COVID virus,” Patrick said.
Adrian Keith is an environmental services technician who received the vaccine and he is feeling encouraged.
“I got the vaccine because I wanted to be around my grandkids. I’m feeling great – I feel like I accomplished something,” stated Keith.
OSF HealthCare is encouraged by the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of an emergency use authorization of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. A vaccine is our best shot to eradicate the virus, and OSF is proud to be able to offer the vaccine to our eligible frontline healthcare workers.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Children's Hospital of Illinois Bloomington
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