Under a sign that reads, “Do your part to crush COVID-19: Get vaccinated,” a group of Yale New Haven Health system workers did just that on Tuesday.
The system received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Tuesday morning.
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, five employees – including doctors, nurses and support staff – sat down and were the first system workers to get vaccinated.
Marna P. Borgstrom, CEO of Yale New Haven Health, said, “This has been a long time coming.”
“We’ve been taking care of COVID-19 patients for almost a year, and our staff is tired,” she said. “We are at a moment now where we have a chance to take advantage of a vaccine that is 95 percent effective.”
Dr. Thomas Balcezak, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, said he has been waiting a long time for this day.
“This vaccine is safe, effective, and this is the first step in getting out of this pandemic,” Balcezak said. “All of our collective health and safety depends on it.”
The goal is to get the vaccine administered to most of the system’s workers within about six weeks, he said. Certain workers, particularly those who work directly with COVID patients in emergency rooms and intensive care units, will be given highest priority.
Onyema Ogbuagu, an associate professor of medicine with Yale School of Medicine who got vaccinated Tuesday, said it felt just like getting a flu shot. He has also served as a principal investigator for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial.
“It has been really gratifying to be part of this vaccine,” Ogbuagu said. “This is the beginning of the end of the pandemic.”
Dr. Keith Churchwell, president of Yale New Haven Hospital, urged those who are hesitant about getting the vaccine to do so.
“There is nothing more important than to get vaccinated,” Churchwell said. “Stay away from the rumors and get vaccinated as soon as you can. Our goal is to get everyone vaccinated.”
As of Monday evening, Gov. Ned Lamont’s office reported the state has had 5,444 deaths due to COVID-19, with 1,243 people hospitalized because of it.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.
