The City of Garland Health Department has begun distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to first responders and healthcare workers. The city received 900 doses of the Moderna vaccine and started vaccinations Tuesday morning.
Garland gave the vaccinations as part of a drive-through operation in the training area outside the fire department. Cars lined up to register. People were then vaccinated and pulled into the parking lot for observation.
"I am very, very grateful for this vaccination," says Fire Captain Ken Craft. "I've been counting down the days. I did my paperwork as fast as I could. I got here as fast as I could. I'm very grateful."
Craft says the first dose has already helped lower his anxiety about the virus. He says police, firefighters and paramedics have been working for months to better understand how to handle the virus.
"It was deeply stressful. Everybody from top to bottom was learning how to cope with this, learning how to respond to it," Craft says. "Now, many months later, we do have a greater comfort level. We know how to put on PPE. We know about distancing and trying to reduce exposure on these calls."
"It didn't hurt at all. It's great. I'm glad to be protecting myself, my family and other people," says Michelle Berger.
Berger is a school nurse in Garland ISD.
"We've just been following CDC guidelines, following what the experts say, just doing what the experts say we should do, being six feet apart and wearing masks," she says. "It's been weird. We don't get to do our normal school nursing. It's all so different this year."
Each person was given a card with a reminder when to receive a second dose.
The vaccinations were available to police, firefighters and healthcare workers from Garland, Rowlett and Sachse.
