While the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may arrive at Mercy Regional Medical Center without bows or ribbon, these small vials are presents filled with an oversized dose of hope for the Durango community. The vaccines promise that the struggles and sacrifices we’ve made to protect and care for our neighbors, our communities, our friends and our families will come to an end. Our future will not be our past.
Mercy is taking giant steps toward this new future, giving 707 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine through December 29th. Our commitment to defeating COVID-19 doesn’t stop there. Each week we are vaccinating our community physicians, their staffs, health care workers, first responders and essential workers in conjunction with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s guidance for 1A and 1B priorities.
For the health care workers who have faced the struggles, stress and heartache associated with COVID-19, I want to thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. I know the challenges presented by this pandemic continue to impact both your personal and professional lives. I also see how you are diligently responding to the needs of our communities despite these challenges and am grateful for your commitment to our Mission and one another.
I am hopeful that we are rounding a corner in the pandemic with the arrival of the first COVID-19 vaccines and have full faith that, by combining our current precautions with the vaccines, we can eradicate this virus. Please remember no vaccine is 100% effective, so it is critical that everyone, regardless of whether they have gotten the vaccine, continues to practice proper COVID-19 precautions, including proper masking, hand washing and social distancing. Together, we can bring this pandemic to an end and celebrate a new, safe and healthy future.
