Shots started going into arms on Thursday, administering Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to frontline hospital workers.
The 3,900 doses made available to the county’s Healthcare Delivery System went to ICU and Emergency Room staff members at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, and St. Louise Regional Hospital. Director of Pharmacy Services for the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Dr. Narinder Singh referred to the rollout as “an incredible moment in history.”
More vaccine doses are due in next week: 2,925 more of Pfizer-BioNTech’s and the first 5,700 of Moderna’s vaccine—the second one pending approval in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration.
The vaccine will not reach non-frontline residents and those outside of nursing homes for months to come. In the meantime, mask-wearing, hand-washing, social distancing, and sheltering in place remain imperative. Particularly important, with Christmas near, is avoiding gathering with those outside of one’s own household. Hospitals and ICUs are currently glutted with fresh COVID cases resulting from last month’s Thanksgiving gatherings. Just today, Thursday 12/17, the County logged 1,201 brand new cases.
