TGMC staffers get COVID shots

Wednesday was a historic day at Terrebonne General Medical Center, when the COVID-19 vaccinations arrived bright and early to be distributed to front line health care personnel.
The hospital received its first shipment of 250 doses early this morning and will administer all of them within days. TGMC is anticipating receipt of 250 doses weekly and potentially more as the availability permit.
Health care workers are considered a priority population for receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. The family of TGMC employees is excited and thrilled to be offered the vaccine first, the hospital said in a press release. They have spent countless hours caring for our COVID-19 patients and are happy to be included in the first step of eliminating COVID-19 in our country.
Dr. Nathan Sutton, medical director of hospital medicine, was one of the first to receive the vaccine. He encourages his fellow team members to take advantage of being the first to get the vaccine.
“We have strong confidence in the vaccine and are encouraging healthcare workers to receive it, said Sutton. “Health care workers receiving the vaccine gets us one step closer to fewer COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths,” he said.
“TGMC is doing its part to help eradicate this pandemic,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. “As healthcare leaders, it is important for us to set the example and educate our community to ensure the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. We are excited to be leading the way by taking this important step in protecting ourselves and individuals from getting severely ill, and most of all protecting our families, co-workers, and patients.”
Employees are relieved to be able to receive the vaccination after fighting this novel virus for the last nine months. They will visibly show they received the vaccine by proudly wearing an “I got my COVID-19 vaccine!” sticker.
The hospital urges anyone with concerns about the efficacy or safety of the vaccine, to reach out to their health care provider to discuss those concerns. Facebook and other social media sites are not the preferred way to educate yourself about the safety of the vaccine.
"We know the general public may be hesitant to receive the vaccine when it is offered to them," the hospital said.
No steps were skipped in the process to bring the vaccine to market.
What was different is that multiple steps occurred at the same time, thus the quick approval process. If you have concerns, the hospital strongly encourages you to discuss those with your doctor or other health care providers.
Hospital officials warn that while the COVID-19 vaccine is another line of defense against the COVID-19, it is still important to wash your hands, social distance at least 6 feet from other people, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, use a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer and wear a mask. It takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after the vaccination.
TGMC will vaccinate all of its staff who want the vaccine. The hospital's leadership said it looks forward to working with community partners to provide vaccinations for first-line responders, critical infrastructure employees, and patients, as outlined in the guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the state and federal government. TGMC said it continues to be the wellness provider in our community and continually stays on the forefront of medical advancements.