Maine health care workers get 2nd COVID-19 vaccine doses

More than 35,000 Mainers have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday, and now some health care workers are receiving their second vaccine dose.

© MaineHealth
Maine Medical Center nurse Kayla Mitchell receives her first COVID-19 vaccine dose in December

Maine Medical Center nurse Kayla Mitchell was the first person in the state to receive the Pfizer vaccine three weeks ago.

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“It was a pretty amazing moment. It felt like I was part of something much bigger than myself,” Michell said.

Mitchell received her second and final dose of the vaccine Tuesday afternoon. WMTW News 8 spoke with Mitchell earlier Tuesday before she received the shot.

“This year has just been such an uphill battle, that this was a small win for the good guys, it felt like,” Mitchell said.

The Food and Drug Administration has said the Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 after receiving the second dose.

As an ICU nurse for patients with COVID-19, Mitchell said over the past year, she has cared for the sickest patients in her nine-year career.

“So, this has boosted morale. Of course, we haven’t seen any change in our patient load yet, so until we see a little bit of reprieve there, we are going to keep going the best we can and not get our hopes up,” Mitchell said.

As the state continues to work through the first phase of its vaccination plan, which focuses on health care workers, Mitchell shared that it is not time to let off the gas when it comes to wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands.

“We can’t do it without each other. The health care community needs the general public and vice versa, so that is the most important piece in making that happen,” Mitchell said.

READ THE FULL STORY:‘We can’t do it without each other’: Maine health care workers get 2nd COVID-19 vaccine doses

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