December 19, 2020 12:30 p.m.

CHI Mercy Medical Center began giving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to medical staff on Friday.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Gray said, “We are very pleased to be part of this historic event. We want to assure the community that we feel confident on the efficacy of the vaccine and are willing to be the first in Douglas County to receive it”. Gray was the first person in the county to be vaccinated.

Mercy spokesperson Kathleen Nickel said hospitals have been prioritized for the vaccine and Mercy received its first allocation from the state on Thursday. Nickel said the hospital conducted a pilot of its vaccination process Friday. It will now be rolled out across the organization. Nickel said the plan reaches the most at-risk staff first – those that are caring directly for COVID-19 patients. That will be followed by staff that are at less risk. Nickel said all staff are eligible to be vaccinated for free. It is not mandatory.

Others getting the vaccine on Friday included a small group of multidisciplinary staff including physician leadership, nursing leadership, administration and front-line staff.