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The coronavirus vaccine has arrived in the Coachella Valley.
A shipment from Pfizer arrived at the Desert Regional Medical Center Thursday morning, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to News Channel 3.
News Channel 3 has a reporter at the hospital speaking with the first medical providers to receive the vaccine. Watch for noon live coverage on News Channel 3 at noon.
Dr Shubha Kerkar, president of infectious diseases at Desert Regional, called the vaccines “silver liners”. She stressed that the vaccine is safe and effective.
Other healthcare workers backed Dr Kerkar’s hope that everyone would get a vaccine, with one saying, “Getting me vaccinated is not enough. We need enough people vaccinated. Others said: “This pandemic must be stopped” and, in a spirit of hope, “we are all excited; we are all ready to start living again”.
Hospital workers who have the greatest potential for direct or indirect exposure to the coronavirus are targeted to receive the first doses. The first of those injections was given Thursday morning, according to Todd Burke, director of communications and public relations at the medical center.
The health professionals who are the first to be vaccinated in Coachella Valley include:
- Yuri Sanchez, nursing assistant and technical monitor, emergency department
- Dr. Arun Thunga, anesthesiologist
- Dr Shubha Kerkar, President of Infectious Diseases, DRMC
- Sandi Aaronson, Respiratory Therapist
- Dr Rick Axelrod, President, Desert Regional Board and CEO, Lifestream
The Desert Regional Medical Center is equipped with the specialized freezers needed to keep the vaccine exceptionally cold.
According to Riverside County health officials, the first amount of Pfizer vaccine allocations for three local hospitals is:
- Regional Desert Medical Center: 1,140
- Eisenhower Hospital 1140
- JFK 805 Hospital
More details: Here’s how the first round of vaccine doses will be distributed in Coachella Valley
More vaccine doses headed for Riverside County
The vaccine’s arrival comes as the availability of intensive care beds in Riverside County has fallen to 0%. Local hospitals say they will implement their surge plans, working to create additional intensive care space to provide care to patients in need.
Riverside County is expected to receive between 14,000 and 15,000 doses on Friday. Healthcare workers directly exposed to the virus will be vaccinated first. Each Pfizer vaccine requires two doses.
MORE: Riverside County releases COVID vaccine allocation plan for first shipment
The next phases of distribution will give priority to critical or vulnerable populations as well as to the general population.
Stay up to date with the latest local coronavirus news, including reopens and closures, new case data, live press conferences and other updates at KESQ.com/Coronavirus or download the News app Channel 3 on the Apple Store and Google Play.
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