3,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrive at UMC Tuesday

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Healthcare workers at University Medical Center are currently receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

The president of LCMC Health is calling today a historic day and is thanking the frontline workers who have stepped up to receive the vaccine.

The very first person immunized, Kim Alvarez, works in environmental services.

After receiving the vaccine, staff at the hospital’s dietary services department, nurses in the emergency room, New Orleans Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno and Dr. Joseph Kanter with the Louisiana Department of Health were all vaccinated.

LCMC received thousands of doses of the vaccines which are being administered throughout it’s six hospital system.

Frontline workers are the first to receive the shot.

LCMC’s president says the vaccine provides a bit of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

“This is a historic day,” says Dr. John Heaton. “Looking forward to the day when there is a way out.”

This is the second day of vaccinations in New Orleans.

Monday, medical staff at Ochsner Hospital began receiving the vaccine.

Copyright 2020 WVUE. All rights reserved.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include title of story.