Butler VA receives doses
The next weapon against the COVID-19 virus — Moderna — has arrived in Butler County.
The Butler VA Health Care System received its own shipment of the Moderna vaccine Monday. It was one of 113 VA medical centers across the country to received the Moderna product.
Army veteran Orville Nicholas, 91, who served in the Korean War, became the first Butler VA Community Living Center patient to receive the vaccine Monday.
“This is like fighting another battle, and I want to be able to see my family again,” Nicholas said.
Other nursing homes in the county are expected to receive their shipments soon. On Monday, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said the Pennsylvania Department of Health is receiving 198,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine this week and has already directed them for delivery.
“Those doses will start arriving this week,” Levine said.
Moderna’s two-dose shot received approval from federal regulators over the weekend, making it the second approved COVID-19 vaccine.
“The Butler VA is eager to offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel, community living center and domiciliary residents,” said Kevin Amick, director of Butler VA.
Butler VA employee George Savannah, 69, who is also an Army veteran, was the first employee to receive the vaccine Monday.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Savannah said.
Butler VA officials said that even after receiving vaccine doses, employees and veterans should continue to wear face coverings, practice physical distancing and wash hands often.
Yet there is still optimism revolving around the latest development. As vaccines become available, Butler VA care teams will reach out to eligible veterans to schedule vaccinations.
“Receiving the vaccine is like having hope delivered,” Amick said. “As vaccine supplies increase, our ultimate goal is to offer COVID-19 vaccination to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”
In her news conference, Levine warned that it will still take time for the vaccines to become widespread and will need additional time to provide the necessary immunity. She said the first dose offers some level of protection. A second dose is needed two to three weeks later. She said a few weeks after that, a person is considered protected.
“Mitigation is more important than ever,” Levine said. “We still need to wear a mask. We need to wash our hands. We need to social distance. And as we approach the holiday season, we cannot let our guard down.”
This is a breaking news report — read more in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.
