‘You could feel the vibe,’ doc says of getting vaccine
Dr. Corina Mar cu wants to set an example.
Marcu, associate vice president of medical affairs at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, received the COVID-19 vaccine Monday morning.
Mar cu was among the first in Connecticut to receive th ev acci ne as part of the roll out by Hartford HealthCare, the health system that includes St.
Vincent’ s. Mar cu was selected as the first St. Vincent’ s employee to get the shot, because she will be part of the team leading vac cinations at the hospital.
A 23- year-employee of St. Vincent’ s, Marcus aid she knows there are conce rns about the vaccine, but it’ s vital for to help stop the spread of the illness.
“It’ the time play into conspiracy theories and fear ,” she said .“We want to stop the waves of infections and deaths
(from C OVID -19). That’ s the most important thing right now .”
About 200 doses are expected to arrive at St. Vincent’ s Tuesday mo rning, Marcus aid.
Vaccinations are expec ted to start with em ergen cy department staff, those in intensive care units, and “any area that’ s going to take care of COV ID patients ,” Mar cu said.
While some have raised concerns about potential side effects, including soreness at the injection site, fever and flu-like symptoms, Marcus aid those symptoms are temporary and common with most vaccines.
“We see it with the flu shot—getting a sore arm ,” she said .“With a pneumonia vaccine, you can get a sore arm .”
And so far, Marcus aid, her experience with the C OVID -19 shot was remark ab ly routine. The process of getting the shot only took a few minutes, and“the needle was so small, I didn’ t feel hardly anything ,” Mar cu said .“I think the flu shot hurt more .”
Though she got the shot outside on a cold, rainy morning, Mar cu said, there was a sense of relief .“It was exciting— you could feel the vibe in the air ,” she said.
Two dose soft he COV ID vaccine are required, weeks apart. Marcus aid she expects all 200 doses being delivered to St.
Vincent’ sto be used for a first round of va cc in ati ons, and a new supply is expected in time for the second dose.
Mar cu is married, with a 17- year-old daughter and 18- year-old son, and she said there is some relief that she will beat lower risk of passing
C OVID -19 to her family.
“It does give me some peace of mind that I’ m not bringing anything home ,” she said .“Obviously, it’ s important that we’ re all protected in all walks of life .”