INTEGRIS Miami Hospital caregivers Clark Osborn, M.D., and Corey Reeves, RN, were the first health care professionals in Northeast Oklahoma to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The pair simultaneously received the vaccine at INTEGRIS Miami Hospital on Thursday, December 17.
More than 350 doses of the vaccine were offered to frontline caregivers at INTEGRIS Grove Hospital and INTEGRIS Miami Hospital.
Osborn, a family medicine physician with INTEGRIS Miami, said, “For me, getting the vaccine feels like the beginning of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. I would encourage others to follow the recommendations of the CDC or their physician and take the vaccine when it becomes available, for their safety and for the health of our community.”
As an emergency room nurse, Reeves feels a sense of relief and duty. “As a health care professional, I feel like it’s my responsibility to take the vaccine so we can eradicate this terrible disease that has caused so much illness and heartache in our community,” Reeves said. “I hope that by taking this vaccine my co-workers, family and community will see that is safe and effective.”
Sam Ratermann, M.D., FAAFP, also was administered the vaccine. “This is an early Christmas gift for me, my family and my community,” he said. “It will help keep me on the front lines caring for COVID patients, as well as other patients who are hospitalized.” Ratermann is the director of the hospitalist program at INTEGRIS Grove and president of Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians.
INTEGRIS Grove and INTEGRIS Miami Chief Executive Jonas Rabel expressed his appreciation that the vaccine had been made available to employees.
“We appreciate the Oklahoma State Department of Health for their efforts in vaccinating our caregivers,” Rabel said. “The process was very well organized, and their team did an excellent job.”
Rabel added: “Our caregivers are taking every precaution possible when caring for our patients. However, knowing they have received a vaccine that is 95 percent effective and that it will provide an extra coat of armor against this disease gives me peace of mind. I am eager to see the next phases implemented when the vaccine will be made available to all populations.”
Kyle Schauf, M.D., FAAFP, who serves as the chief medical officer at INTEGRIS Grove Hospital, provided a word of caution about the vaccinations.
“I am grateful and excited to have had to opportunity to protect me, my family and my patients by receiving the vaccine,” Schauf said. “However, we must remain diligent in working together to slow the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to wear masks, social distance and employ frequent hand washing. It will take more time before we have enough people vaccinated to see a significant decline in the spread of the disease. The end of this terrible disease is near, but we must remain vigilant until that time.
