​St. David's HealthCare Workers Get Coronavirus Shots In Austin

AUSTIN, TX — St. David's HealthCare medical workers — on the front lines fighting the coronavirus scourge — received vaccines designed to ward off the virus causing respiratory illness on Friday.

Hospital employees and medical staff who are providing direct COVID care and are at the highest level of risk were in the first vaccination group, officials previously said. As the vaccine becomes more widely available, hospital officials added, additional hospital employees and medical staff will be offered the vaccine.

"We waited nine moths for this — which is still an amazing accomplishment that they did it in that time," Brian Metzger, medical director of infectious diseases at St. David's Medical Center, said after being vaccinated. "But to have it here now, and to have it available to start vaccinating staff and physicians it's an exciting day."

Previous coverage:

• St. David's HealthCare Gets Coronavirus Vaccine Delivery
• Austin Ascension Seton Frontline Workers Get Coronavirus Vaccine
• Baylor Scott & White-Round Rock Workers Get Coronavirus Vaccines

Jennifer Ybarra, a respiratory therapist at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, was the third to get vaccinated among the hospital staff. "I felt it was my duty," she said after being inoculated. "I work in a hospital, and i think it's a step in the right direction to somewhat of a normal life and getting back to seeing friends and family."

Shayla Rowley, a shock trauma ICU nurse at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, had the distinction of being the very first to be vaccinated at the hospital system. She registered surprise at that status after getting her shot. "No. 1! I had no idea I'm the first person. I'm excited to be! I got the email at work. I was working the night shift, and I immediately signed up," she said.

Thoughts of her loved ones spurred her to get vaccinated, a choice that is volutary rather than mandated of hospital staff. "Just to be an example for my family especially," Rowley said in describing her inspiration.

Inoculations began after the first shipments of an initial supply of the Pfizer vaccine arrived on Thursday. Nearly 3,000 doses of the vaccine were delivered to St. David's HealthCare hospitals, officials previously said. St. David's HealthCare then began administering the vaccine to its employees and medical staff on Friday using a tiered system based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Academy of Medicine, officials explained.