LAKEPORT — Nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists and other healthcare workers at Sutter Lakeside Hospital received the first, small batches of a rigorously tested vaccine protecting them against COVID-19 Friday, marking a critical moment in the fight against the pandemic.
Registered Nurse Diane Derenia became the first person in Lake County to be immunized against the coronavirus, receiving the first of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. In 21 days she will receive the second dose, at which point she will have 95-percent protection against developing the coronavirus infection and symptoms should she be exposed to the virus.
“As more people receive the vaccine we’ll see a decrease in the number of new infections, which in turn will lower the number of hospitalizations and deaths,” said Tammy Carter, LVN, the Sutter Lakeside infection control and employee health coordinator.
Staff at Sutter Lakeside Hospital celebrated the arrival of the vaccine, calling it a glimmer of hope in what has been a difficult year.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be the first person in our community to receive this lifesaving vaccine” said Derenia. “Today wouldn’t have been possible for a rural hospital like ours without the support of Sutter Health, we are stronger together and the speed and organization with which we’ve received the vaccine are a testament to that.”
“These heroes have poured everything they have into this fight,” said Scott Knight, Chief Administrative Officer for Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “To all of our healthcare workers we say thank you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your commitment in serving your community over the past 10 months.”
Only frontline healthcare workers. nursing home residents and staffers are currently eligible to receive a dose of the vaccine. Those next in line to receive it are essential workers and members of the general public with underlying health conditions that make them more likely to develop a severe infection or die from COVID-19 if they contract the virus. Vaccines for the general public could be available by early summer.
“Widespread vaccination is the final piece of the puzzle,” said Dr. Gary Pace, Lake County Public Health Officer. “The distribution of rigorously tested, effective vaccines just one year after this virus first emerged is a testament to science, our guide throughout this pandemic.”
The early doses of COVID-19 vaccine come amidst an unprecedented surge of cases regionally and statewide. Even with vaccinations taking place now on a limited basis because of vaccine supply, the public is reminded to continue wearing face coverings, avoid gathering, stay home whenever possible and participate in contact tracing and quarantining as needed.
