COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Efforts Continue Across the Tri-State

Frontline healthcare workers are seeing a boost in morale as vaccinations continue across the Tri-State.

Deaconess Health says that over 4,000 healthcare workers in its Indiana facilities have now been vaccinated for COVID-19.

At Deaconess' Henderson facility, around 100 workers have received the vaccine, with over a dozen healthcare workers at Deaconess Union County Hospital also being vaccinated so far.

Meanwhile, officials in Hopkins County with Baptist Health Madisonville say the distribution of the hospital's initial shipment of 975 Pfizer vaccine doses is nearly complete.

Dr. Wayne Lipson, Chief Medical Officer at Baptist Health Madisonville, said the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine was like a "modern miracle."

"Really in my lifetime, this is almost like a modern miracle," explained Dr. Lipson. "You've seen a vaccine in less than one year be able to potentially treat our healthcare providers that are on the front lines every day in this constant battle against COVID-19."

While thousands of healthcare workers nationwide have received their vaccinations, nursing homes across the county started vaccinating residents for COVID-19 as of Monday.

Dr. Lindsay Weaver, Chief Medical Officer at the Indiana State Department of Health also says that the state health department is working to launch a vaccine data dashboard that will help keep the public informed on how many people have been vaccinated so far.

Shortly after the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in Indiana, over 46,000 Hoosier healthcare workers had already registered to receive it.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine must be received in two separate doses. The Pfizer vaccine's second dose is needed 21 days after the initial dose is given, while the Moderna vaccine offers a 28-day gap, but still takes an additional week after the second dose to develop immunity.

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