SAN ANTONIO — Dr. Adelita Cantu spent some time away from her nursing students on Tuesday to make history as the first person to become administered Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at UT Health San Antonio.
The monumental day comes after the university received nearly 6,000 of vials on Monday, making them among the first institutions in the state to obtain the vaccine and administer the shot to its workers.
"I'm thrilled to have been the first to receive it," said Dr. Cantu.
Cantu said having a vaccinated medical staff will benefit patients they treat moving forward, being that they will be able to care for the ill without worry of infection.
"With these surges we are having, we need to have people on the front lines getting this vaccine and getting it first," she said.
To date, the Department of State Health Services is reporting more than a million Texans have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Among those infected, 24,000 of those case have resulted in death since March. Cantu said receiving this shot is the first major step in combatting the pandemic.
"I'm glad I can give assurance to people in the community," Cantu said.
Knowing others are still on the fence over the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, she said now is the time for people to research.
"That is good. Take your time and investigate it. Ask questions about it and then you can see [if] it's safe for [you]," she said.
The vaccine regimen consists of two doses over a three-week period to become effective. Health care workers willing to participate will receive their first dose over the next week and second dose in January.