Healthcare workers receive vaccine in Lane County

Instead of being on the defensive that was the chief nurse at riverbend hospital just a short time ago.

Vaccinations at two hospitals in lane county are underway right now----marking the beginning of the end of this pandemic.

Good morning.

Thanks for joining us this morning for kezi 9 news midday.

I'm jaimie hayes.

A long-awaited moment in lane county is finally here as the first healthcare workers in our area received the coronavirus vaccine earlier this morning--- we were there as staff at mckenzie willamette medical center in springfield received the first doses around seven o'clock this morning.

The hospital is holding vaccine clinics throughout the week for health care workers and anticipates more than 400 people to get vaccinated by the end of the week.

So far, the hospital has received just one shipment, and the second doses will need to be administered in another three weeks.

Infectious disease hospitalist doctor harry scholtz was first in line.

"oh it was great!

A momentous occasion here.

We're witnessing history and it was painless and easily tolerated so i'm happy to be a part of it and happy to help spread the good news" doctor scholtz said there's about 1000 employees who will need the vaccine.

They hope to have all 1000 vaccinated by the beginning of next month.

A bigger task lies ahead for peacehealth hospitals.

They have 6- thousand medical staff who will need the vaccine.

They vaccinated their first employees this morning in springfield just hours after mckenzie willamette.

Officials received 975 doses of the pfizer vaccine last week and anticipate receiving more sometime this week.

They'll be able to vaccinate 200 caregivers just today.

First in line was riverbend nurse carol eickmeyer.

"i'm excited that the vaccine is here in oregon and we're finally getting it.

It feels like the light at the end of a really long tunnel" everyone who got the vaccine told us it was a largely painless process - better than getting a flu shot.

Both hospitals are using the pfizer vaccine, which they are able to store in