Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Wednesday brought some hope and gratitude for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill as they received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Channel 11 was there as pharmacists from Giant Eagle administered the first dose of the Moderna vaccine to residents and staff.

Giant Eagle is working with the State Department of Health to help distribute the vaccine to patients in need.

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In total, 190 staff and residents were expected to get vaccinated today.

The Sisters of Charity and staff will then get their second dose three weeks from now.

The facility didn’t have any COVID-19 cases until early December when a few popped up between residents and staff, but since then, and after weeks of isolation and a clean bill of health, they were able to see some hope today after getting vaccinated.

“Especially if you’re older, as I am, it gives you courage to go forward and not to hesitate to live as fully as you can,” said Sister Gemma Del Duca,

“It matters that we protect everybody, but it really is hard to be stuck in one’s bedroom 24-7. But we can’t afford to have them be any more at risk than is necessary. For us to have everybody get vaccinated today is a huge gift,” said Sister Barbara Einloth, provincial counselor and vice president of Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.

This is the first clinic held by Giant Eagle in western Pennsylvania. They’re hoping they’ll be able to offer both vaccines from their pharmacies to the high-risk population in the next month or so.

Dollar General paying workers to get COVID-19 vaccine (NCD)