Coronavirus: Moderna Vaccine making its way to Jacksonville hospitals

Jacksonville, FL. — Several local hospitals are set to receive doses of the newly approved Moderna Vaccine, including Mayo, Memorial, Baptist, and St. Vincent Hospitals.

Today, Baptist Health anticipated a delivery of 2,000 doses. On Tuesday, frontline workers who want one will be vaccinated by priority. Those at higher risk, like staff in COVID-19 units, the ER, and ICU can get in line first.

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Baptist said it sent out a survey to employees just under 50% said they would get a vaccine.

Dr. Elizabeth Ransom, the executive vice president for Baptist Health said more than 500 employees are scheduled to get Pfizer’s vaccine Monday.

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Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccine require two doses 21 days apart.

115 COVID patients currently being taken care of at Baptist locations

“I think it is still important though to realize the virus is still out there... and the numbers are climbing.” Ransom said.

This as a new strain of the virus is spreading in the United Kingdom, the strain more contagious up to 70 percent more transmissible.

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Dr. Sunil Joshi, the President of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation said the new strain isn’t more deadly and believes the vaccine will work against it.

“I don’t think it is something we need to be overly alarmed about now that we have a vaccine….I think it is very likely we will have an annual vaccine for this much like we do for the flu.” Joshi said.

Cox Media Group