Read and watch this as it originally appeared January 19, 2021 on News12NJ.
Health care workers at Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
With the second Moderna dose, the workers are now 94% immune against the coronavirus. Dr. William Chenitz and his daughter, Dr. Kara Chenitz, were two of the first to receive the second dose at the medical center.
“Well, I’ll feel a lot more comfortable in dealing with patients in the hospital. I’ve really done everything from outside the door,” Dr. William Chenitz says.
Saint Michael’s is not immune to the most pressing issue in New Jersey surrounding the vaccine – the lack of supply. The medical center received 900 second doses Tuesday morning. But its supply of first doses is nearly empty.
“We are down to about 50 first doses left. We hope to have another 500 in the next couple of days. We are still waiting,” says hospital CEO Alan Sickle.
Over 343,950 people statewide have had their first dose of the vaccine, and another 43,969 have had second doses.
Dr. Sickle says getting staff vaccinated keeps vital nurses and doctors on the job, but also helps to give them peace of mind.
“This will alleviate a lot of the fear about getting sick and bringing that home,” he says. “And as we vaccinate their families, we will all feel more comfortable.”
As the hospital gets closer to serving the general population, the administration believes images of staff getting vaccinated will help those – especially in the minority community – to trust in the vaccine.
