CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The first boxes of COVID-19 vaccine were packed up and shipped out Sunday from the Pfizer plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Trucks escorted by police were seen taking the shipments on the road – heading for cities across the nation.
Shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine will be making their way to Chicago area hospitals Monday, and health care workers are first in line to receive them.
“The primary emotion that I feel is hope, which is something that we haven’t felt in many, many months,” said Dr. Robert Citronberg, Medical Director of Infectious Disease and Prevention for Advocate Aurora Health.
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Dr. Robert Citroberg said without a COVID-19 vaccination, the pandemic could likely go on for another two to three years.
"We have a ticket out of this pandemic," he said.
Now, the key is to get people to take the vaccine when it’s their turn. Health care workers and high-risk people are the ones most likely to get a chance to get it first.
"The good news is, if we can get everyone vaccinated who needs to be vaccinated by the end of June, the second half of next year looks very promising," he said.
Dr. Citronberg said the risk of side effects from getting the vaccination is much less serious than the effects of actually contracting COVID-19.
“Most side effects from immunizations occur within the first few weeks,” he said. “There are many long-term side effects from having had COVID if you survive it. It’s not just a matter of dying from COVID. It’s living with it.”
Dr. Lamia Katbi told CBS 2 the stress of dealing with COVID-19 has been overwhelming.
“The emotional trauma, the anxiety, the fear has tremendous effect on my patients, on their families,” she said.
Dr. Gabriel Bosslet of the Indiana University School of Medicine will be getting the vaccine soon and told CBS 2, "I’m getting the vaccine on Wednesday at 5:30 and I’m super stoked.
“It’s our moonshot. I mean, it’s our generation’s man on the moon, and I think to think of it any other way is to do it a disservice.”
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Local hospital executives said that even among healthcare workers, who gets the vaccine when is being done on the basis of who deals the closest with COVID patients.
“I did not go into medicine not to be a pioneer in what I do,” Katbi said. “I think just by me taking the vaccine, I think that will build more trust.”
“American society doesn’t call on us often to sacrifice. I think back on my grandfathers who volunteered to fight in World War II. Their sacrifice was far greater than me rolling up my sleeve to have a small needle put in,” Bosslet said. “But the symbolism of it is the same. It is undertaking risk so that Americans and humanity at large can finally have this behind us...Vaccines don’t save people. Vaccinations save people.”