GRAND CHUTE (NBC 26) — As more people across Wisconsin are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the Grand Chute Fire Department hosted a clinic Saturday morning to welcome that opportunity to the community.
People from across the Fox Valley came out to get the Moderna shot that was being offered. For one Appleton man who received his first dose Saturday, he shared how he was a little nervous coming in:
“It’s something you don’t know what to expect, but it was painless and easy going. It was very convenient just come in here and it was all spaced. Once I came in I was at ease,” said Michael Leet, Appleton.
Leet was not alone in sharing similar feelings of not knowing what to expect.
“I think a lot of people are nervous right off the bat. Not knowing what to expect. So I think once more people go through it they will see it’s a little easy,” Leet said.
He says now that he has received his first dose, he feels a lot more at ease returning back in a few weeks to get his second.
“I have no problem coming back and, no, I will not have any anxiety,” Leet said.
He says as more people start getting vaccinated, this will hopefully be a step in the right direction.
“I’m excited for things to get somewhat back to normal. I think it might be a little bit before things get totally back to normal. Excited to be able to kind of see family more and be able to do things you normally wouldn’t be able to,” Leet said.
Grand Chute Assistant Fire Chief, Kelly Hanink explains how Saturday’s vaccination clinic was truly a community effort as everyone was helping in every way they could.
“We’re expecting to vaccinate 258 people here in the two and a half hours that we’re set up here. Grand Chute firefighters are the ones that are giving the vaccine,” Hanink said. “And then we have other town employees and some of our election inspectors that are helping with registration and some of the cleaning and some of the non-medical tasks. It’s really a whole town effort. We have people from HR, IT, and Department of Public Works, different people from the whole town who are helping to do this.”
Hanink also shared how they also do their best to make sure they can provide the vaccine to those that might have a hard time making it to a clinic like this one.
For example, those who may have a disability, seniors, and folks who may simply not have a means for transportation.
“We are willing to do our best to see if we can bring the vaccine to them and we will be doing that with a couple of people today at the end of our clinic. And we can’t do it anytime because we can only open a vial when we know we are going to be able to give the number of doses that come in that vial. In the case of Moderna it’s 10 doses, maybe 11 doses,” Hanink said.
