Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, Renown Regional Medical Center, and Northern Nevada Medical Center all say they have plans in place for the vaccine. Some staff members, however, are choosing not to get the first round of Pfizer's shots right now.
"OK lets do it," said Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center Nurse Jenny Louie. She is excited the first batch of COVID vaccines is in Northern Nevada.
Pfizer's vaccine is the first of it's kind to be distributed, and it will go to medical personnel. NNMC, Renown, and Saint Mary's have all confirmed taking the vaccine will be optional, and not required for their health workers. But some staff members are holding off getting the first batch of shots.
"We know some of the side effects and just like anything new, we are a little cautious. But we know vaccines are still the right thing to do," said NNMC Director of Emergency Services Shelby Hunt.
Medical studies have found Pfizer's vaccine is 95% effective, but British regulators are looking into possible allergic reactions from the vaccine.
In the U.S., an FDA Advisory Board reported four people had Bell's Palsy type symptoms. It recommended only surveillance after saying there is no clear link between the vaccine and the symptoms.
Still, hospitals in the area say staff response is fairly positive. "I have more yes and maybe responses, than no responses in my department," said Hunt.
The biggest concerns are possible allergic reactions and the possible side-effect of a few days of sickness. Concerns are these could create problems with current staff shortages. "Many employees will say that they are needed. They don't want to go missing any days of work because they got the vaccine," said Hunt.
Louie says she's not deterred, because getting COVID could have a worse result than the side effects. "I hope I will not get as sick as some of the patients that I've seen or become permanently debilitated from COVID. I wouldn't want to infect any of my family members or have them getting sick from the virus," said Louie.
"A lot of it just the unknown. The employees who don't want to get shots right now are not saying an absolute no. They just want to see how the first round of vaccinations go," said Hunt.
