Hospital Gives Out First Doses Of Vaccine

From Staff Reports

Moderna’s highly-touted COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Ste. Genevieve.

The county health department received all 200 ordered doses, according to new director Jennifer Mueller.

Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital (SGCMH) gave out doses to 10 employees as a “trial run,” in Mueller’s words. She said it went smoothly.

Phase 1-A will see long-term care facility residents and medical personnel who deal with patients receive the

vaccine. In Phase 1-B, high-risk individuals ages 18-64 and everyone 65 and older will qualify for shots, along with other “essential workers.” That category will include water/wastewater workers, energy workers, childcare workers, teachers and education staff, critical manufacturing workers and food and agriculture workers.

Modera’s vaccine has an effective rate of just below 95 percent. Phizer released a vaccine with similar rates shortly before Moderna. Storage issues, however, have made the Phizer drug much less desirable. Special freezers and/or supplies of dry ice would be needed to store it at some 100 degrees below zero.

The Moderna vaccine will keep in a generic refrigerator.

No major adverse events were noted during the vaccine’s testing process. Minor side effects were similar to other vaccines, including injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches, nausea and vomiting.

According to Dr. Matthew Bosner, medical chief of staff at SGCMH and a health board member, the vaccinating of all hospital staff starting with patient facing healthcare personnel and staff who may have direct or indirect exposure to COVID 19 patients and are unable to work from home will start this week.