SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The 2020 year came to a close with news that the long awaited COVID-19 vaccine has now begun to be administered in hospitals in the Greater Sacramento area. Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael was among six Dignity Health hospitals receiving its first shipment of the first FDA approved emergency COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, December 18.

External Communications Manager for Dignity Health Greater Sacramento Division, Yessenia Anderson, said, “Today marks a moment for the history books… This is a huge step forward in the battle against COVID-19.”

In order to receive the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the hospital prepared by acquiring equipment for cold temperature storage and developing all the safety processes to be implemented.

As part of a pilot vaccination program for the respiratory illness, the hospital began administering the first round of vaccinations to 29 critical health care workers who volunteered on Friday, December 19.

Mercy San Juan Medical Center president Michael Korpiel said, “Our care team members… have answered the call of duty and beyond during this pandemic, and I am thankful to now be able to offer them an added layer of protection as they carry out their crucial life-saving work.”

“While there are always unknowns when a new vaccine is developed…” Korpiel said, “Safety is our priority, and we only administer vaccines that are proven safe and effective.”

Hospitals such as Mercy San Juan, Anderson said, “are expect[ed] to receive more doses of the vaccine every week, so the number of people who can get the vaccine will increase exponentially very quickly.”

For more information visit www.dignityhealth.org/sacramento/locations/mercy-san-juan-medical-center