NEENAH (NBC 26) — ThedaCare began inoculating staff members with its first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Thursday. The healthcare organization said it received its first shipment of the coronavirus vaccine from Moderna on Wednesday.
According to a news release from ThedaCare, federal and state authorities call for health care personnel to be offered vaccines in the first phase of the program, starting with hospital workers, emergency responders and long-term care staff.
Nurses, medical assistants, clinical technicians and others are being trained to prepare the vaccination and administer it to ThedaCare workers.
Among the first to receive the vaccine was Dr. Zach Baeseman, ThedaCare family medicine practitioner in Waupaca and Wild Rose and Associate Medical Director of Primary Care. He received his vaccine at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca Thursday morning.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be recommended, but not mandatory, for ThedaCare team members, the health organization says. Staff will still wear protective equipment regardless of their decisions to receive the vaccine.
ThedaCare reminded the community in a news release that public availability of the vaccines could still be months away. ThedaCare leaders are asking that patients do not call their health care providers to schedule a vaccination, and there are no wait lists for the vaccine.