BOISE, Idaho — The Pfizer vaccine is here, and as of earlier this week, it's already being administered to health care workers in the Treasure Valley.
The Pfizer vaccine gained emergency use authorization from the FDA last week, and each tray delivered around the country has 975 doses.
Saint Alphonsus has received two trays so far, one on Monday and one Wednesday, equaling almost 2,000 doses for the health system.
According to Saint Alphonsus, 348 staff members and counting at the Boise location have received the vaccine since Monday.
Saint Alphonsus ICU Director Megan McInerney was one of the first people to receive the vaccine at the beginning of this week, calling it a “light at the end of the tunnel.”
She reported no side effects besides some soreness in her arm -- and a sense of joy among her and her staff.
“We are not out of the woods yet. This is just a symbol of a step in the right direction. It's a symbol to all of us that the end of the pandemic is in sight,” McInerney said.
The health system says they will still follow the proper safety protocols like wearing PPE and social distancing. Saint Alphonsus is expecting to receive more allocations of the vaccine for their health care workers as the weeks go on.
