First Five University of Maryland Medical System Frontline Healthcare Workers Receive Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

As the State of Maryland embarks on its COVID-19 vaccination plan, the first five University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) frontline healthcare workers have received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. In a historic undertaking, Governor Larry Hogan thanked these brave individuals for agreeing to be the first recipients of the vaccine. This marks a significant milestone in the state's efforts to protect its healthcare workers and residents against the pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

• The first five UMMS frontline healthcare workers to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine were a shock trauma physician, an emergency medicine physician, a nurse, a respiratory therapist, and an environmental services worker.
• The vaccine was administered as part of Maryland's COVID-19 vaccination plan, which begins with Phase 1A, focusing on frontline healthcare workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and first responders.
• Shawn Hendricks, MSN, RN, a 25-year veteran nurse at the University of Maryland Medical Center, was the first UMMS employee to receive the vaccine.
• Additional frontline healthcare workers who received the COVID-19 vaccine include Michael Winters, MD, a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine; Sharon Henry, MD, a Professor of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine; Daisy Solares, RRT, a respiratory therapist at the UMMC Downtown Campus; and William "Bill" Thomas, a 25-year employee working in Environmental Services at the UMMC Midtown Campus.
• The vaccination effort is a testament to the commitment of UMMS and UM School of Medicine colleagues to care for the community and lead in the development of innovative treatments and vaccines.

Statistics:

• 5 frontline healthcare workers received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on December 14, 2020.
• 20,000+ UMMS employees will become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 1A, focusing on frontline healthcare workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and first responders.
• The University of Maryland Medical System has worked tirelessly to care for the community and lead in the development of innovative treatments and vaccines, with over 2,000 COVID-19 patients treated at the UMMC Downtown Campus.

Sources:

• Office of the Governor, The State of Maryland
• University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS)
• [No external source provided in the text.