�ǿմ�ý

Christy Mulder, a registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at U of U �ǿմ�ý, was the first frontline health care worker in the state of Utah to be vaccinated. “On one hand, it’s an honor to care for the community during this time,” Mulder says. “But on the other hand, we’re tired and drained—emotionally and physically. To get a vaccine, it’s overwhelming because it’s the beginning of an end.” Four other U of U �ǿմ�ý care workers, including an emergency physician, respiratory therapist, health care assistant, and environmental services worker, were among the first group to receive the vaccine. “The reason why all of us stepped up to be the first is to be an example not only to our fellow workers and providers, but also our patients and the public,” says Stephen Hartsell, MD, an emergency physician at U of U �ǿմ�ý. Two U of U �ǿմ�ý pharmacy residents administered the vaccine to the first five patients.

Following those patients, several dozen staff in the MICU and COVID-19 units at University Hospital were vaccinated. U of U �ǿմ�ý plans to run a smaller clinic that will vaccinate 300-500 staff by the end of the week and then run a larger clinic that will vaccinate 500-800 staff in the coming weeks. “We want to be as efficient as possible,” says Kavish Choudhary, PharmD, senior director of pharmacy at U of U �ǿմ�ý. “We have 19,000 employees who need the vaccine in a short amount of time.”

Because of a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines and logistical constraints, the vaccine will be distributed in phases. The first wave includes health care workers who have direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. The vaccine will be optional for U of U �ǿմ�ý care workers and will not be mandated at this time. The vaccine will be distributed more widely as more supplies become available.