Local frontline workers share experience after getting COVID-19 vaccine

PITTSBURGH — Employees of the largest federally qualified health care center in Pennsylvania are receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

It was a day Dr. George Garrow, chief medical officer for Primary Health Network, had been looking forward to for quite a while.

“It was a very emotional occasion after I got the vaccine. People ask how I felt and I got very tearful. This has been a hard journey. A lot of us have been working really hard to protect our patients,” he said.

Primary Health Network received 400 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine last week and began administering it the same day.

Dr. Garrow was among the first to roll up his sleeve and get the shot.

“I wanted to get the vaccine early so that I could demonstrate to my colleagues, my coworkers, our staff that I believe the vaccine is effective and safe,” he said.

So far, about 75 Primary Health Network employees have been vaccinated.

Dr. Garrow says his team extensively researched the Moderna vaccine and sent out surveys to get feedback from employees.

“Half have said they would accept it. Another 25% or so is on the fence and another 25% is saying no at this time and that’s okay, we will continue to educate.”

Dr. Garrow says trust is one of the key components needed to mitigate Covid-19 and to have a successful vaccination campaign.

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Cox Media Group