ATLANTA — Several metro Atlanta hospitals started vaccinating frontline workers against COVID-19 Thursday.
Grady, Wellstone, Emory Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and several other hospital systems rolled their vaccines out to workers most likely to be exposed to the virus.
The state’s top health official, Dr. Katherine Toomey, also publicly rolled up her sleeve for her first shot in order to demonstrate her confidence in the vaccine.
Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was there as Toomey gave a big thumbs up after getting her shot.
“I am so relieved and so excited,” Toomey said.
Employees at Grady were some of the first in metro Atlanta to get the vaccine. Employees were notified Thursday morning by email that vaccines will begin to be administered in phases, prioritizing people who work in areas with the most exposure risk.
[SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Pandemic in Georgia]
“This is an exciting moment for Grady as we join our colleagues across the country and hopefully mark today as the beginning of the end,” Grady CEO John Haupert and Chief of Staff Robert Jansen said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the science invested in the development, testing and distribution of this historic vaccine that allows for us to protect our staff, their loved ones and our community.”
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Grady said it planned to have all employees and medical staff who choose to participate be vaccinated by the end of January.
Emory Hospital also started vaccinating employees Thursday. Emergency room nurse manager Nicole Baker was the first employee to receive the Pfizer vaccination at Emory.
“We are excited to begin the process of vaccinating our frontline staff members today who have courageously battled this pandemic caring for patients with COVID-19 for so many months,” says Jonathan S. Lewin, MD, CEO of Emory Healthcare. “Even with this excitement, we will still need to comply with three W’s -- Wearing a mask; Washing your hands; and Watching your distance -- now and in the coming months to prevent further spread of COVID-19.”
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta said they started vaccinating “patient-facing employees” Thursday.
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Wellstar Health System started vaccinating employees on Thursday as well.
“The first group of team members to be vaccinated represents a diverse cross-section of Wellstar employees on the frontlines of the pandemic from several departments, starting with our Emergency Departments, ICUs, Urgent Cares, Skilled Nursing Facilities, paramedics (first responders), and adult and pediatric primary care offices,” officials said in a statement.
Hospital officials said frontline workers who requested the vaccination got the first shots Thursday afternoon.
Piedmont Healthcare conducted a training exercise to teach employees how to administer the vaccines on Thursday. Around 100 employees in high-risk categories from Piedmont Newton and Piedmont Rockdale hospitals will be vaccinated as part of the exercise.
