First COVID-19 Vaccine Shipment Arrives

We received our first shipment of 4,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine this afternoon. The initial batch will support vaccinations of frontline health care workers with direct patient care responsibilities at our facilities. Also included in that shipment were doses destined for non-Carilion hospitals in our region who do not have the appropriate freezers for storage.  

“The light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel is getting a little brighter,” said Chad Alvarez, senior director of Retail Pharmacy and the leader of our COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force. “This is an exciting step forward in the fight against this pandemic.” 

Frontline health care workers in our emergency departments and COVID units will be the first to be vaccinated later this week, then other employees with direct patient contact will follow. We expect to receive additional shipments of vaccines in the coming weeks.

As a reminder, per CDC and Virginia Department of Health guidance, the general public should have more access to the vaccines in the spring and summer of 2021. 

“In the meantime, it’s critical to remember that we all must double-down on the precautions we are taking to protect ourselves and each other,” said Paul Skolnik, M.D., infectious disease specialist and chair of Medicine. “Keep washing your hands, wearing your masks and remaining distant from each other while you avoid large gatherings. Those actions and the COVID-19 vaccines will be what beats this pandemic.” 

Details of vaccine shipments including the timing, exact destinations and storage locations will not be disclosed publicly to ensure the security of the vaccines. 

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine and our roll-out plans, please go to the coronavirus vaccine page or contact Chad Alvarez at cealvarez@carilionclinic.org.