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VACCINE IS HERE Santa Barbara County hospitals give first shots
COURTESY PHOTO
Leticia Rodriguez, who works in Environmental Services in the COVID-19 unit, received one of the first vaccines Thursday.
Marian Regional Medical Center gives staff COVID-19 vaccine
Cottage Hospital receives nearly 2,000 doses By GRAYCE MCCORMICK
shipment next week as well. “We’re here to celebrate a milestone of hope for our 10 months of waiting. healthcare heroes, our frontline 10:03 Thursday morning. workers, our hospital and for our 1,950 doses. community as well as we begin the The COVID-19 vaccine has rollout of the vaccine for COVIDfinally arrived in Santa Barbara, 19,” Mr. Werft told reporters and Cottage Hospital welcomed Thursday afternoon. “This is a it with open — and shot-ready — really exciting day.” arms. Today, in its first full day, Cottage The first box of the Pfizer Hospital will administer a little vaccine was over 150 vaccines to delivered around healthcare workers To see streaming video working directly for 10 a.m. Thursday GO TO morning at the COVID-19 positive newspress.com patients or patients loading dock at Santa Barbara who could possibly Cottage Hospital. have COVID“You could almost hear a 19. Then, starting Monday, 300 universal cheer go on throughout vaccines will be administered the entire hospital community,” every day, likely vaccinating all Ron Werft, president and CEO Cottage employees within the next of Cottage Health, said, mere two to three weeks. hours after the first vaccines were Officials are still unsure when administered to staff members. the Moderna vaccine will receive The hospital received nearly FDA approval, but Mr. Werft said 2,000 doses and expects a similar he thinks it will be “fairly soon.” NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
A Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot is administered to a medical worker at the Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria on Thursday.
“Staffing is our most precious resource… We’re adequately staffed today, but I would say that’s why making sure that people in our community protect themselves is absolutely critical so that we make sure this precious resource of ours, that we have sufficient numbers to take care of patients,” Mr. Werft said. Cottage Hospital has four freezers at negative 70 degrees with “more than adequate” freezer capacity for all the shipments. In addition, the CDC and American Hospital Association released information Wednesday that the vials may hold more than five doses and possibly six. “We can confirm that,” Mr. Werft said, answering a question from the News-Press. “It was our experience just a few hours ago with the very first bottle, which provided a sufficient vaccine for six doses. Please see cottage on A2
feel like we can turn the corner,” he said in an interview with the News-Press. Spirits were high as health care workers rolled up their sleeves and received their first dose. Staff members cheered for one another and even broke into small, celebratory dances. “It’s a big sense of relief to have the vaccine on site,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Scott Robertson said. “It’s the light at the end of the tunnel, but we’ve still got a long path ahead of us.” Even once someone’s received both doses of the vaccine, it’s important to still follow all the precautions, he said. He doesn’t anticipate policies changing until the infection rate is low. “Despite this glimmer of good news, the overall situation is still fairly dire,” Dr. Ritter said. “And it’s up to everybody out there to do their part to bring this under control.” Santa Maria has reported 77
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria administered its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and BioNTech to frontline workers Thursday. Hundreds of Dignity Health Central Coast employees will receive a vaccine from the initial shipment of 1,900 doses. Staff members will have to get a second dose for the vaccine to be effective. Marian Regional Medical Center is not requiring staff to get vaccinated, but 98% of its employees answered in a survey that they intend to receive the vaccine. Dr. Trees Ritter, an infectious disease specialist at Dignity Health Central Coast, was first in line. “Physically, I didn’t even feel it. Emotionally, it felt amazing to
COVID-19 deaths and 5,441 cases, 341 of which are still infectious. “It’s certainly helpful at any time to get the vaccine, but we’re hopeful it can help lower the rate of infection. And we’re hopeful that this will be the last surge,” Dr. Robertson said. Dr. Ritter, despite working in a hospital, was more worried about catching COVID-19 at home from his teenage daughters. There has not been any COVID-19 transmission within the hospital. “When people get infected, it’s usually when they let their guards down, and when they’re with their close friends,” he said. Marian Regional Medical Center will be continuing its precautions, including 14day quarantines, despite staff members receiving the vaccine. The second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is administered 21 days after the Please see marian on A8
Grace Fisher Foundation presents Winter Music Showcase 2020 By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Promising an inspirational holiday message during these times, the Grace Fisher Foundation and other sponsors will broadcast a Winter Music Showcase on Sunday. All viewers have to do is turn on Channel 3 at 4 p.m. and there will be a one-hour production right in
the comfort of their homes. Many musicians, artists and sound and stage technicians came together and prerecorded the production at the Granada Theatre. Featured performers include Grace Fisher herself, The Voice semi-finalist Will Breman and Jackson Gillies, as seen on American Idol. Also featured will be the Three
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people as possible.” Grace will be performing an original composition, and according to her mother, Deborah Fisher, she found inspiration for it from “Fantasia.” Ms. Fisher said that if they would have scheduled filming the production at Granada Theatre just two days later, it would have been canceled for the lockdown. “I do feel like it’s a Christmas
miracle, truly,” Ms. Fisher told the News-Press. “I feel like this is our Santa Barbara Christmas story.” Everyone performing in the show is connected to Grace in some way. The show was held live at Santa Barbara High School for the past two years, but live performances are not permitted due to COVID-19 restrictions. Ms. Fisher said that filming was a positive thing for performers
because nobody got sick and “we were just ecstatic to be in that space.” According to Grace’s mother, “She is super excited.” “This rush that you get from performing… Her life has been action-packed through COVID,” Ms. Fisher said. “She’s been working on this production and it Please see music on A2
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For Joy String Trio, Santa Barbara Teen Star finalists, Bar Back Boys and Madrigals Alumni Choir. “I guess the world looks different this year, but I hope that this show will give our community the inspiration it needs during this holiday season,” Grace told the News-Press. “Unfortunately, it’s not a live show, but I think it definitely gives us a greater platform of reaching as many
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Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-6-11-12-17 Meganumber: 9
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 0-1-2-7
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 1-10-18-20-46 Meganumber: 15
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 4-16-23-34-36
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 09-06-10 Time: 1:45.44
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 4-23-37-61-67 Meganumber: 7
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 7-9-9 / Thursday’s Midday 7-2-9