‘Historic Milestone’: Hurley Hospital Employees Receive Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

FLINT, MI – Executives and frontline workers at Hurley Medical Center in Flint hope Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine will mark the beginning of the end of a global health crisis as nearly 1,000 volunteers get vaccinated.

Hurley received 975 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer on Thursday, December 17. On the same day, the hospital began administering the first round of vaccinations to employees who volunteered for it.

The first vaccines were distributed to a doctor, a respiratory therapist, a nurse and an environmental technician.

“It was a little surreal,” said John Stewart, emergency services administrator and immunization clinic coordinator at Hurley Medical Center. “I think the reactions from the staff was something I hadn’t anticipated. They were excited, they were talking that this was hopefully the beginning of the end. I think it has given some hope.

The hospital employs approximately 2,800 people. Before the vaccine was administered, infectious disease experts at the hospital answered questions from people waiting for vaccinations, Hurley officials said.

Melanie Melanie Krznarich, a medical assistant who has worked at Hurley for 25 years, was one of the employees who was vaccinated Thursday.

Krznarich said receiving the vaccine was extremely exciting for her. Her job includes working with COVID-19 patients on a daily basis.

“The process went smoothly,” Krznarich said. “It was very well organized and it was moving. Much relief to finally have that day.

Krznarich called the vaccine a big step in the right direction to end the “marathon of poverty”.

“I have had the extreme satisfaction of helping families through many scenarios, but nothing touches it,” Krznarich said.

Krznarich recognized his team and the way they worked together during this difficult time.

During the first round of vaccine distributions, the hospital administers vaccines only to employees who provide direct patient care.

“We’re trying to demonstrate the benefit and I think anything we can do to encourage the community that it’s safe, it’s the right thing to do because it’s made available,” said Stewart. “The public should seriously consider getting vaccinated when it is made available to them. “

Other hospitals in the Mid-Michigan area, such as McLaren Flint, McLaren Bay area and Covenant HealthCare, have also received the vaccine and have started giving it to their employees. Memorial Healthcare in Owosso is expected to receive its first round of vaccines next week.

The hospital placed another order for 975 doses of the vaccine from Pfizer on Thursday. The shipment could arrive sometime next week, Stewart said.

Those who have been vaccinated should receive their second dose of the vaccine 21 days after the first dose.

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