LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — UMC became the first hospital in Nevada to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to front-line health care workers on Monday.
After receiving its first allocation of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, UMC administered the first doses to hundreds of front-line health care workers at the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19.
WATCH THE UMC PRESS CONFERENCE HERE:
In recognition of this historic moment for Nevada, UMC CEO Mason Van Houweling joined Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Dr. Fermin Leguein, Acting Chief Health Officer of the Southern Nevada Health District, at UMC Monday to witness the arrival of the first vaccine shipment.
RELATED: Southern Nevada Health District receives first COVID-19 vaccine shipment
After receiving its first shipment Monday, UMC thawed a portion of the doses immediately to begin the process of vaccinating front-line workers, including staff from the hospital’s intensive care units, Emergency Department, and other key areas of the hospital. UMC stored the remaining vaccine doses in the hospital’s ultra-cold freezer.
“With the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine, we have reached a turning point in our shared fight against this unprecedented public health crisis,” said UMC CEO Mason Van Houweling. “Today, UMC began vaccinating the men and women who have worked tirelessly on the front lines to care for our community. This represents an important step in UMC’s ongoing mission to safeguard the health of our staff, reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community, and ultimately bring an end to the pandemic.”
RELATED: OTHER CORONAVIRUS NEWS
UMC will continue to vaccinate front-line team members in the coming days and weeks, utilizing the hospital’s largest indoor conference room to efficiently and safely administer the vaccine while following social distancing guidelines.
