Orange Park, FL. —
Frontline workers at Orange Park Medical Center (OPMC) in Clay County received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
Two hundred and six worker signed up for the shot.
They all had to have received their first dose on December 27, 2020 or prior.
Staff said they’re anticipating some walk-ins too, taking the total of vaccinations to 300.
For nurse Kimberly Keller, this vaccine has a special meaning.
“I’ve seen a lot of patients come through here with this,” Keller said. “I’ve suffered some losses in my life from it. It’s very real.”
Keller serves as head of the COVID-19 unit at the Medical Center.
She joined hundreds of others, on Wednesday, to get her second injection of the Moderna shot.
Keller also has taken on the roll of administering the vaccine to other employees.
“I wanted all of my staff to see me out there on the front line doing this to encourage them all to get vaccinated,” Keller said.
Health experts said the second dose of the shot is more likely to cause side effects.
Jodie Graves, Director of Pharmacy at OPMC, spoke with Action News Jax reporter, Meghan Moriarty, about potential reactions.
“Within four to eight hours, you’re going to have intense soreness in your arm. That’s expected,” Graves said. “Followed by, 12 to 24 hours later, fever, chills, achiness, fatigue, some nausea, sometimes diarrhea.”
Graves adds that when this happens, it means your body has been exposed to the vaccine to mimic the virus.
She said it is boosting your immune system during this time.
“We have vaccinated--in our county-- now 5,000,” Graves said. “We have not had anyone report some really bad effect.”
For Keller, this vaccine signals is step towards better living.
“Hope-- that there is hopefully an end in sight, that we will get this under control, and we can get back to some sort of normalcy in our lives,” Keller said.
Cox Media Group
