Vaccination of benevolent employees in High Gear | Local News

Applause occurred Thursday morning when William Balls received a COVID-19 vaccination on his left arm.

“I didn’t feel it either,” he said a few minutes later. “I’m always happy to get the vaccine. If it helps prevent the spread of this COVID virus, I’m fine. It’s great for everyone.”

He described COVID-19 as a “nightmare” and said he had seen the darkest side of the virus many times in his role as a hospital-based full-time ER paramedic.

“Mercy gives us the tools to do the job, and we were able to do just that,” he said. “We got stuck several times and were packed. It was always a challenge. I’ve seen many lives and many families upset for this pandemic. It’s pure evil. But I think this (vaccine) is great for us, for everyone. It will allow us to put it behind us ahead of this pandemic. “

Boles, who will return to the same room for a booster shot in January, was one of the more than 100 Mercy Hospital Joplin employees who received the first of two vaccinations during the day. Each one was taken by a doctor and one nurse, and it took up to about 20 minutes to complete.

Donna Stokes, Mercy’s infection preventive doctor, said the sight was almost speechless when she saw her colleague vaccinated.

“If we can see our face under the mask, we’re definitely laughing,” she said. “This is the first opportunity we had to be able to feel that emotion. It’s been a long 9 or 10 months.”

She likened the fight against a pandemic, which killed 231 people in Jasper and Newton counties, as an emotional roller coaster.

Both her colleague and other healthcare professionals throughout the Joplin region “did a great job — maximizing their abilities — but sometimes it wasn’t enough. And it was their It’s very difficult for our healthcare professionals to devote their hearts and souls to their daily work. “

What was happening at Mercy and other hospitals this week “give us hope that we can quickly return to normal sensations.”

Jeremy Drinkwitz, president of Mercy Hospital Joplin, described Thursday as “a day of absolute historic hope” and said he was able to feel the energy and excitement of the entire hospital with more than 260 rooms.

As of Thursday morning, more than 150 Mercy employees had received the Pfizer vaccine and arrived at the hospital on Tuesday at 10 am. The first employee to receive a needlestick injury on Tuesday afternoon was Dr. Eden Esgera, a 65-year-old infectious disease expert.

A total of 1,950 vaccinations (initial and booster) were given, and 975 Mercy employees were able to be vaccinated. Hospital staff are divided into four categories: A, B, C and D. Group A staff are considered to be at greatest risk of COVID-19 exposure. Mainly nurses, doctors and other caregivers working in the ER.

One of the main reasons Joplin Hospital was able to obtain the vaccine very quickly was that it had an ultra-low temperature freezer on site that could safely store the doses that Mercy needed cold to survive. Mr. Stokes said.

According to Mercy’s pharmacy director Sarah Boyd, the Pfizer vaccine arrives at the hospital on dry ice and has a shelf life of about 6 months when stored in the freezer. However, due to Mercy’s vaccine distribution plan for the worker, which required a “weekly plan,” authorities hope to administer all initial doses within a few weeks.

“It’s very refreshing to see the amount you want,” she said, which a Mercy employee was displaying on Thursday.

Duane E, a member of Category A. Dr. Myers had just turned his back on the wall and vaccinated. He had to wait 15 minutes after the shot before being allowed to leave the room.

“I was waiting for this day,” he said. “When I heard them handing out (shots) … I couldn’t wait to come here and start the process.”

“I’m still feeling better, admitting that I don’t feel fully protected until after receiving my second booster shot a few weeks later, Myers said.

Infectious disease nurse Sharon Jones was vaccinated Thursday morning. During that time, she did not hear any “pain” or “scream” from the subject.

“But I cried a few (colleagues) because of the excitement of receiving the shot,” she said. For many, the needlestick represented the coveted psychological lift, she added.

Freeman Vaccine

“Here at Freeman Health System, we are excited about the upcoming release of the vaccine and expect it to be delivered next week or so,” a Freeman Hospital official said in a statement Thursday. “However, a recent announcement by the Governor’s Office and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services suggests that the next shipment may contain 25% to 30% less dose, and the arrival date is an estimate. I know that.

“We have established a distribution plan that prioritizes front-line workers in direct contact with patients.”