Fitzgibbon Hospital took possession of its first COVID-19 vaccine doses at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 28.

A news release says this is being made possible via a collaborative effort between Saline County’s Public Health Department, Johnson County’s Community Health Services and Fitzgibbon Hospital.

Fitzgibbon Hospital President and CEO Angy Littrell says this an exciting time.

Littrell says the vaccine will only administered to front-line healthcare workers only at this time per state mandate.

Littrell says it will still be a little while for Saline County residents to have the opportunity to get the vaccine.

Littrell says it is very important to know that the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses.

The idea is for vaccination of 80 frontline workers over the next three days.

Littrell says it’s very important for everybody to remain diligent about adhering to other COVID-19 precautions that have been in place for quite a while.

The actual first vaccine will be administered to 10 people at 1 p.m. today.

Photo Above: Ronda Davis, R.N., Public Health Nurse Administrator (left) with Johnson County Community Health Services health department and Mary Thaut, administrator, arrive at Fitzgibbon Hospital the morning of Monday, Dec. 28, with a special medical cooler containing 80 doses of the COVID-19 vaccination manufactured by Pfizer. The vaccine was made available through Operation Warp Speed and distributed by the State of Missouri to area health departments, who have distributed them to front-line health care workers via collaborative arrangements. (Photo contributed by Amy Weber, Fitzgibbon Hospital)

Representatives gather just outside the Fitzgibbon pharmacy, which is responsible for thawing the vaccine and readying each syringe for patient injection. Present for the vaccine delivery were: (from left) Karla Link, LPN, Tara Brewer, administrator, both of the Saline County Health Department; Mary Thaught, administrator of Johnson County Community Services; Angela Igo, R.N., Chief Nursing Officer, Dennis Sousley, Vice President of Clinical Services and Angy Littrell, President and CEO, all of Fitzgibbon Hospital; and Ronda Davis, R.N., public health nurse coordinator of Johnson County Community Services. (Contributed photo by Amy Weber, Fitzgibbon Hospital).