COLORADO SPRINGS — There was a line of UC Health Memorial frontline COVID-19 care givers stepping up to get the COVID-19 vaccine when the first ever doses arrived Monday. The very first was Emergency Department Charge Nurse, Jeremy Hulsker. “I tell the people in the Emergency Department I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself. Whether cleaning a room, mopping, grabbing lunch, and in this case taking this vaccine, [it would] be hard to talk to my staff, my community if I wasn't willing to do it myself.”
“I wanted to be in the first group because I feel like we’re making history right now,” said UC Health Charge Nurse, Amy Christopher. The arrival of the vaccine is a pivotal point in the battle to cut-off the pandemic.
UC Health in Colorado Springs starts with nearly 4,000 doses. The first go to the healthcare workers with the closest contact to COVID-19 patients. It is doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and environmental specialists. "If one person steps up and everything comes out safe like we said, everybody will be more willing to step up and get one as well," said Environmental Specialist Tre Williams. He specifically wants his African American community to trust the vaccine.
The other health care systems in Southern Colorado receive doses over the next couple of days.
The first vaccines are an important new tool, but do not replace on going preventions like masks, hand=washing and social distancing.
