CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been given to the Cook County Health nurse who was the first to receive the first dose.
Tracy Everett is an emergency department nurse at Stroger Hospital of Cook County who received her first shot of the Pfizer vaccine 21 days ago.
She said she's just as excited and humbled now as he was then.
"It doesn't feel like a super power, but it is a sense of relief for us, because, I'll still continue to do what I need to do to protect others and myself against the virus," she said.
Everett said she had been leery about whether to get vaccinated, at first. Then she did research and realized the benefits outweigh the risks. Not only that, though. She said, "I believe science."
Everett has been a nurse for 17 years, 11 of them at Stroger Hospital, and said of taking the vaccine, "I feel like I'm also doing it in honor of all the people who didn't survive."
Infectious disease Dr. Gregory Huhn, the COVID-19 vaccination coordinator for Cook County Health, said the distribution of the second dose is big symbolically, as well as practically.Cook County Health
Infectious disease Dr. Gregory Huhn is the COVID-19 vaccination coordinator for Cook County Health. He said the distribution of the second dose is big symbolically, as well as practically.
"We're now doubling down on our end game that we face this year with hope and solidarity towards this defeat of this terrible pandemic," he said.
"We've been on the front lines. We've witnessed the struggle, the suffering, and this will really give us hope and empower us, as well. This is sort of the force behind the mask that will get us to the other side of COVID-19."
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Dr. Huhn said all Cook County Health workers who want the vaccine should be able to get their first dose by the middle of the month.
The doctor said he's scheduled to receive his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine Friday.
