“I heard someone say this is liquid gold, and it really is,” said Mark Murdock, director of the Dayton VA and a retired Medical Service Corp officer. “We really need to get everyone vaccinated as quickly as we can.”
The Dayton VA received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine this week. It is one of 113 VA medical centers across the country to receive the first limited supply of the vaccine.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was 94% effective in clinical trials in preventing COVID-19 disease, the VA said. The vaccine is administered in two doses, 28 days apart.
“The side effects appear similar to those of other vaccines and are short-lived,” the VA said in a statement.
“I have no worries, and I do encourage everyone to get vaccinated,” a VA registered nurse, Penny Campbell, said in a video shared by the Dayton VA.
“I’ve worked on the front line since this started, and I just want to do whatever I can to make sure that the community is protected, my family is protected, my patients are protected — and that I’m protected,” said Rhonda Risner, also a VA registered nurse.
“I’m very happy,” said Community Living Center resident Larry Wilson. “I’m very proud to be the first vet to get this shot.”
The 365-bed Dayton VA Medical Center is among the region’s largest hospitals.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base officials have said their base will not be among the initial military bases to receive the vaccine. Earlier this week, a base spokeswoman said it was unclear when the base Medical Center would receive it.
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