First Vaccine Administered at Helen Keller

WAAY-31's Beken Terry discusses the distribution of the vaccine in local hospitals.

Minutes after it's administered.

Several hospitals across north alabama administered the pfizer vaccine to employees this week.

Huntsville and decatur vaccinated their employees for the first time yesterday.

Athens and cullman administered their first vaccine on tuesday!

This morning -- helen keller was added to that list of hospitals that administered a coronavirus vaccine for the first time.

Waay 31's breken terry was there.

She goes over why that moment meant so much to the hospital employees.

It's been a rough week for employees here at helen keller hospital.

They lost a beloved nurse to the virus plus they are caring for more coronavirus patients but just beyond these doors they are finally getting the vaccine and they told me that is a sign of hope.

Sands- at least it's some kind of hope that there is an end in sight.

Helen kellers chief nurse said as staff members take this vaccine the people on their minds are the patients they've lost, loved ones that won't see their families again, and even a co-worker who took care of the sickest.

Sands- jennifer left a huge legacy for all of us to live by and it's going to be really hard for me not to be emotional through this because she was someone everyone really looked up to.

The virus took jennifer mcclung on monday a nurse for 21 years at the hospital but now with these shots nurses and healthcare workers have an advantage over the virus.

Sands- it's been a really emotional week for our staff and physicians as well so it's been a tough week for us.

Sands said they are taking the shot for the ones they lost and the hope of saving others in the future- a level of care and compassion jennifer mcclung lived by.

Sands- we want to treat our family, friends, and patients like someone we love and that's what jennifer tried to do with every patient she took care of.

Look live tag: the hospital is hopeful that it's nurses and physicans can lead by example and encourage people to get the vaccine and show them it isn't dangerous.

In sheffield bt waay31 news.

This morning the hospital had 41 patients in it's covid unit.

They've had to expand that unit this week to keep up with the number of people needing hospitalization