SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — The Shelby County Health Department began vaccinating first responders and certain high-risk health care workers with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.
Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings didn’t even flinch when he got the vaccine, among many of his fellow first responders.
“We know many of our employees have been impacted by COVID, so I think it’s very important for us as leaders, especially as an African-American leader, to role model,” Rallings said. “I haven’t heard of anyone dying from the vaccine but I think the numbers in the US are around 330,000 Americans have died from COVID, so let’s take the vaccine.”
Memphis firefighter Ronald Mitchell said he recently had a relative die of COVID-19.
“That’s one of major reasons I stepped up to take it, in hopes we can alleviate this thing and get back to regular life,” Mitchell said.
Both men said they want to send a message to the community that the vaccine is safe, as officials hope to accelerate vaccination numbers in the weeks to come.
Shelby County Health Department Director Doctor Alisa Haushalter said they plan to give more than 3,000 doses this week, mainly to first responders and people living and working in group home settings.
“We really need to keep our first responders in field. They’re most at risk because they come in contact with people every day and then spread to others,” Haushalter said.
That’s why the county set up a drive-through vaccine station. It’s mostly by appointment only, for groups that don’t have direct connections to their own healthcare providers. Haushalter said 50 people will staff this and one other location for 12 hours a day.
Tennessee state officials say they want to get to 200,000 people by the end of the year, with only about 50,000 reported so far.
Haushalter said the state can hit that goal, because health departments in 96 counties are giving the vaccine.
“We need to get a significant number of people vaccinated between now and June. It’s a start,” she said.”
The next group to get the vaccine will be more health care workers, including those in dental care. Haushalter said their turns will come soon into the new year.
The health department said they have set up two drive-thru vaccination sites, including one at 1826 Sycamore View Road in Memphis. The following groups will be allowed to get a vaccine starting Monday:
- First responders with direct public exposure including EMS, law enforcement, and fire fighters
- Staff working at COVID-19 mass testing sites
- Home health care staff with direct patient contact
- Staff and residents of long-term care facilities, residential homes for the aged and staff and residents of assisted living centers who have direct contact with residents or contact with potentially infectious materials
- Providers of K-12 or university student health services who have direct patient contact or contact with potentially infectious materials
- Staff of other congregate care facilities such as homes for the intellectually or developmentally disabled, detention centers, Staff of Department of Children’s Services residential facilities, rehabilitation hospitals and psychiatric hospitals who have direct patient contact or contact with potentially infectious materials
Those ages 65 years of age or older, and those with comorbidities that put them at a higher risk for complications from COVID-19 will be given priority.
To read Shelby County’s vaccination plan, click here.
