MidMichigan Health nurse first to receive Midland COVID-19 vaccine



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Update


The first COVID-19 vaccine was administered in Midland today to AJ Schafer, registered nurse in the medical ICU at MidMichigan Health Medical Center – Midland.

Schafer was surrounded by reporters, cameras, microphones and a select group of other healthcare workers when she received the Pfizer vaccine. Although slightly intimidated, Schafer said she felt wonderful and physically good.

“The shooting itself was thrilling,” she said. “It’s going to be a step in the right direction to get back to normal. It’s good not to have this fear of knowing if I’m going to bring something back to my family; will I bring something to work? “

She said she expected the “light at the end of the tunnel”; however, she had no idea it would come so soon. Yet she had no apprehension about receiving the vaccine.



“Some people have concerns, naturally, but I think as we start to understand and start to see how people react to it, we’ll build trust throughout the community,” she said.

The first vaccine arrives less than a year since the discovery of COVID-19 at the end of 2019 and an epidemic was declared in March. Midland County has recorded more than 3,100 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic and healthcare professionals are now hoping the vaccine is from start to finish.


“It’s encouraging, it’s exciting and it will be a relief once this is all over,” Schafer said.

Sue Lennon, a registered nurse in the medical ICU and director of employee health and wellness, administered Schafer’s first vaccine. Lennon was the second person to receive the vaccine, and then they were quickly followed by a group of other colleagues from Midland Medical Center. She said it was an exciting day, but she didn’t expect all the emotions.


“It’s been a long way with COVID and the isolation and care of our staff and the monitoring of staff illnesses and so much more,” she said.

She is optimistic that the vaccine will not only be effective and help reduce the spread of COVID-19, but that the community will adopt it to aid herd immunity.

Earlier Wednesday, a shipment of nearly 3,000 vaccines arrived at Midland Hospital, to be distributed among the 23 counties in the health system.

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