NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Three hundred health care workers with Meharry Medical College are expected to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, as Metro’s vaccination clinic opens.
Meharry President and CEO Dr. James Hildreth was among those vaccinated today.
I got Moderna COVID-19 vaccine today. I am very excited to witness and benefit from triumph of science dating back decades. pic.twitter.com/97dqmJl9NQ
— James E.K. Hildreth (@JamesEKHildreth) December 23, 2020
The Metro Public Health department received its first shipment of about 3,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday. Today, it will receive 6,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
The plan is to vaccinate 300 people each day.
"Now this is an exciting day and an important next step in what I think will be the beginning of the end of this pandemic,” Dr. Alex Jahangir said Tuesday.
People will be vaccinated in phases. The first round to receive the vaccine will be health care workers who’ve been on the front lines of the pandemic. They fall under the phase 1a1 group, which also includes high risk healthcare workers and first responders.
After that, as part of phase 1a2, all other health care providers in the community will receive the vaccine. Teachers and childcare workers will be included in the next phase.
Metro health officials say they are partnering with HCA Healthcare to provide another vaccination site soon.
The vaccine is free but not available to the public just yet.
People must be invited to get the vaccine. Those eligible will be contacted by the city.
