CLEVELAND — University Hospitals (UH) has begun the administration process of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The distribution comes just one week after other local hospitals-- including the Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth-- began immunizing healthcare workers against the Coronavirus.
"University Hospitals is proud to have been the first health system clinical trials site in Northeast Ohio for COVID-19 vaccines," one UH representative said in an email to 3News. "Now, we’re seeing the positive results of participating in those trials."
According to UH, the vaccine will be distributed in order of greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19, and to date, more than 16,000 healthcare workers within the UH system have asked to receive the vaccine.
"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, UH has leveraged the strength of our 19-hospital system to provide the best care possible for all of our patients," the hospital said in an email. "We are proud of our caregivers in clinical and nonclinical positions for their dedication to patients during this critical time. Now that we have received vaccines and begun distribution, we are doing the work to bring this pandemic to an end."
UH says it will continue to vaccinate healthcare workers and essential employees as more doses arrive in the coming weeks and months.
Chief Clinical and Scientific Officer Dr. Dan Simon shared his thoughts on the long-awaited first vaccinations at UH, Wednesday morning.
"After an incredibly trying year for all of those in our community, we're optimistic that this marks the beginning of the end of COVID-19. My deepest thanks and gratitude to every member of the UH team, whether on the frontlines or behind-the-scenes, who helped us reach this crucial moment. #UHProud," Dr. Simon wrote on Twitter.
You can see video footage of Wednesday's vaccine administration in the video below:
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