MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A momentous day for West Tennessee and a shot of hope as the first group of frontline workers received their first Pfizer vaccinations. The first vaccinations began Thursday morning at the Memphis VA Medical Center.
Nine months of working the frontline of the pandemic built up to this moment.
"This initial vaccine that we’re receiving is potentially the best PPE we can get people so I’m very excited about them taking this vaccine because it will add just a wonderful layer of protection to them as we take care of our veterans," Dr. Marvin Miller, Memphis VA Chief of Medical Services, said.
The Memphis VA was one of 37 VA's in the country to receive the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine. It received around 975 doses.
“I’m excited. To me this is our first step of getting back to normal. I’m really excited for me to be able to get it and I’m really excited for the safety that is coming," Beth Wave, Memphis VA Chief Nurse of Acute Care, said after receiving hers.
Dr. Miller was likely one of the first, first responders in Shelby Co. to receive the vaccine when he and four others got it one day earlier.
“24 hours later. I have a little soreness in my arm. I have had no systemic side effects whatsoever," he said.
On Thursday, ten VA healthcare workers were expected to get the vaccine all together. Memphis VA Chief of ER John Flaherty was one of them.
“I think it’s a privilege. In a lot of ways I feel I’m not deserving. That there’s other people that should be in line but they offered me to be in the position and I’ll take it," he said.
Dr. Miller said the vaccination process will start out slow as they perfect their system. By Friday, he expects the VA to kick into high gear and begin many more of the vaccinations.
As of Thursday morning, more than 500 of 2,400 employees at the Memphis VA had signed up to receive the vaccination immediately.
Tennessee as a state will receive 56,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. A second shipment of the same number of doses is expected to arrive in three weeks.
The first doses of the vaccine will go to high-exposure healthcare workers, long-term care facilities and first responders.
