As vaccinations begin, scenes from a historic week at VCU Medical Center

Emergency medicine physician Joel Moll, right, receives a COVID-19 vaccine at V C U Medical Center — Emergency medicine physician Joel Moll, right, was one of the first seven at VCU Health to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. (Kevin Morley, University Marketing)

Dec. 17, 2020

As vaccinations begin, scenes from a historic week at VCU Medical Center

A look at how it all unfolded.

It was a historic week at VCU Medical Center, as the first shipment of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine arrived and VCU Health began vaccinating front-line health care workers. Here’s a look at how it all unfolded:

Monday, Dec. 14

An ultra-cold freezer at VCU Medical Center set to -80 degrees Celsius. — An ultra-cold freezer at VCU Medical Center. The vaccine must be stored at -80 degrees C to preserve stability. (Kevin Morley, University Marketing)

A COVID-19 vaccine appears to be imminent. VCU Health is prepared to receive it.

As VCU Medical Center awaits its first delivery of the vaccine, VCU Health News explains the plan in place to receive, store and distribute it. Read more

Tuesday, Dec. 15

A person wearing a mask and gloves places a box containing vaccine vials into a freezer. — Rodney Stiltner storing VCU Health’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine in one of VCU Medical Center's ultra-cold freezers. (Kevin Morley, University Marketing)

First shipment of COVID-19 vaccine arrives

University photographers document the arrival of the first shipment. Meanwhile, Rodney Stiltner, Pharm.D., director of pharmacy services at VCU Health System, discusses the medical center's ultra-cold freezer and the process to prep for vaccinations. Read more

Wednesday, Dec. 16

Audrey Roberson reacts after receiving the coronavirus vaccine from Veronica Nolden. Roberson was the first front-line medical worker at Virginia Commonwealth University to get the Pfizer vaccine. (Kevin Morley, University Relations)

COVID-19 vaccinations begin at VCU Health

Front-line health care workers are the first to receive the vaccine, with nurse manager Audrey Roberson the first of seven at VCU Health to be vaccinated. “Knowing what we've been through and knowing what we've done for the last 10 months here in the state of Virginia and here at VCU Health, having this vaccine and this opportunity was one that I was not going to allow to pass,” she said. Read more

VCU Health pharmacy manager Rebeccah Collins fills a syringe with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. (Kevin Morley, University Marketing)

In photos: Scenes from a historic two days at VCU Medical Center

University photographers capture the delivery of the vaccine and the first vaccinations at VCU Health. View photos

Audrey Roberson. — Audrey Roberson was the first at VCU Health to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. (Kevin Morley, University Marketing)

First vaccine recipient: ‘This is our chance to move forward’

In an interview with VCU News, Roberson, who works in the medical respiratory intensive care unit, stresses that vaccination is the right thing to do. "I trust the science." Read more

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