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Excitement at UC Irvine Med Center As First OC Health Workers Get Vaccinated
A pharmacist from UCI Health preps a COVID-19 vaccine for injection. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Orange County got its first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this morning. The first 10 employees to get vaccinated at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange were nurses, doctors, and custodial workers.
Staff cheered after every vaccination.
Erik Mara gets vaccinated at UCI Medical Center. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Erik Mara was the second one to get the shot. A respiratory therapist who recently recovered from COVID-19, he expressed the relief and hope many were feeling.
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“Knowing the fact that the vaccine is here, you feel more assured. It’s going to decrease the numbers of Covid in the near future and that's what we’re hoping. To be honest with you, our hospital right now — we have no beds.”
It plans to have vaccinated 2,000 employees by Sunday.
OVERALL LOOK AT ORANGE COUNTY NUMBERS:
Here's a look at longer-term trends in the county. To see more, visit our California COVID-19 Tracker and choose Orange County or any other California county that interests you. These numbers are current as of Tuesday, Dec. 15:
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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