Thirty health care workers with the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Thursday, at the Tribal Clinic. The Tribe received the first round of vaccine from the State of Nevada on Wednesday.
Christina Baldwin has been on the front lines of community testing at the tribe since March and was the first person at the Tribe to receive the vaccine. Gracie Booth, laboratory technician and community tester, gave directions to Baldwin before administering the vaccine, regarding the follow up process which includes two check-in phone calls.
Baldwin normally works as the tribal diabetes coordinator, but her extensive lab technician background put her in the position to assist with the community testing, a task she has diligently performed since the onset of the COVID pandemic.
Both she and Tamika Fasthorse, a Tribal Council member, were brought to tears with relief as the first vaccine was administered. The community has been hit hard the past month, losing including Tribal members and elders from various families.
Before the vaccine can be administered a consent must be signed and a list of routine questions answered including whether the recipient is feeling sick. The Tribe has rapid testing machines at the clinic to test anyone experiencing symptoms before the vaccination. They also make sure the person has not had any severe allergic reactions to an injectable in the past, if they are taking any blood thinners, or if they have a blood disorder. Even if patients do have these conditions, they may still receive the vaccine, but clinicians would keep a close out for any potential reaction after the dose is administered.
Susan Bracamontes, the Associate Director of Clinical Services, watched as the first vaccine was administered. “These two girls (Booth and Baldwin) have done all of our community testing, over 2,500 COVID tests and have been amazing. The rest of the team is outstanding, too, but they get the stellar award.”
Comment
Comments