Frontline staff at Rumford Hospital are getting the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.
President Peter Wright says many arrived for work early to get the shot, and he expects all 100 doses the hospital received will be administered by the end of the day.
“A lot of enthusiasm, a lot of excitement. People stepping up,” he says. “It’s really exciting.”
Wright says he hopes that the broader community will get the vaccine when they have the opportunity.
"People should not fear getting this vaccine. I certainly encourage everyone to get it, because this is how we come together as a community to protect each other," he says.
This is the first week that the Moderna vaccine is available, after the FDA authorized its use last week. It’s logistically easier to manage than the Pfizer vaccine, which requires ultracold storage.