11pm UK Healthcare 12152020

At u-k hosptial..

The process of vaccinating front- line health care workers began this afternoon.

And as abc 36's monica harkins reports...u-k expects to vaccinate about 500 more employees over the next two days.

### "monica: uk healthcare says the nearly 2,000 covid-19 pfizer vaccinations came in two boxes smaller than your average pizza box."

In each of these tiny jars...the capacity to immunize people against covid-19..and save lives....something that isn't quantifiable.

"almeter: this isn't the end but a start to the end."

Uk healthcare received 1950 doses of the vaccine tuesday morning...and was able to give the shot to 88 healthcare workers...priotitizi ng those who work closely with covid patients.

Jeremy jones"it genuinely is an honor."

Jeremy jones works in the emergency department and was one of the first five to get vaccinated.

Jones"i think it's kind of a big deal after the year that this country has been through, for me to be one of the first, it means a lot."

Uk says they would have vaccinated more people tuesday, but the vials are stored at 70 degrees below zero so they had to allow time to thaw.

Another drawback of its storage requirements... the doses can't be preloaded into a needle too far in advance...like a flu vaccine can.

"almeter: they're locked and loaded ready to administer.

However, these vaccines require a considerable amount of manipulation."

Still, the whole process only taking a few minutes.

During these past few months, healthcare workers have become heroes to so many...but even our heroes have fears.

"hinali patel: i definitely was nervous.

My biggest fear i think is the needle part and i'm usely passing out during the flu shot, so i definitely have to give myself a pep talk before coming in today that i can do this, and i survived it " a pep talk she willingly gave so hopefully nurses like her can finally catch their breath.

"patel: it's physically and mentally exhausting," jeremy jones echoing the same.

Jones:"to see these people struggling for life..it impacts you.

And if there's something that you can do as easy as wear a mask or get a vaccine i think you should," in lexington, monica harkins abc 36 news.

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