Oklahoma health care workers provide update on COVID-19 and vaccine

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Oklahoma healthcare officials provided an update on COVID in our state including information on the next step for vaccinations.

Vaccines have been delivered to five locations across the state – but there’s a limited supply.

“It is just a limited supply of vaccine right now, they are continuing to we expect that we will receive the vaccine on a weekly basis,” said Lawanna Halstead with the Oklahoma Hospital Association

Currently, it is being distributed to healthcare workers caring for the sickest COVID patients.

Pediatrician Dr. Don Wilber called vaccines the most important medical advancement in the last century.

“As the supply increases over the next few months, we will see more Oklahomans receive the vaccine including those over 65 and teachers. It will also be free which will make it more accessible to Oklahomans,” Said Dr. Wilber

Rural hospitals haven’t received it yet, but will over time.

Hospitals are staggering their employees receiving the vaccine – that way, if recipients need to take off due to side effects they won’t be short-staffed.

“The last nine to ten months have been some of the most taxing days that we’ve had in the emergency department especially over the last 30-45 days. As the numbers have gone up obviously hospitalizations have gone up and we’re starting to see a taxing on the system,” said Dr. Jason Benn an emergency medicine specialist

Dr. Benn added that the stress on the emergency rooms is not just COVID, saying it’s a bad time to need to go to the emergency room.