It's officially here: the light at the end of what's been a dark and deadly tunnel. The COVID-19 vaccine has been administered in Iowa for the first time. A week ahead of December 20 as Gov. Reynolds originally predicted. KCCI reports, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics emergency room nurse David Conway is officially the very first Iowan to receive the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. As promised by federal officials, front-line healthcare workers are receiving the highly sought after vaccine first. They'll be followed by those in long-term care facilities.

UIHC said that over 50 UI Health Care employees will receive the first of two doses of the vaccine today, Monday December 14.

Experts are still quick to warn that despite the arrival of the vaccine, this is not the time to relax and stop wearing masks or social distancing. The general public likely won't have access to the vaccine for months and supplies remain limited during the initial rollout. The first group of employees to be vaccinated are the front-line workers dealing directly with patients suffering from COVID-19.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Iowans Share Their Last Normal Photo Taken Before Quarantine

 

More From US 104.9