Health care workers at EBNHC get first shots of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Monday

EAST BOSTON — After months of masks up and PPE on, nurses at one local facility were deeply grateful to see the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Amazing, overwhelming. It’s been a long time, and now that we have the vaccine it’s just a great feeling,” said Karina Mendoza, a registered nurse at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center [EBNHC]

The first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived Monday at the EBNHC. The delivery came less than a year since the pandemic began.

“This is truly a medical miracle. I’ve been doing this for about 30 years, and watching vaccines role out very slowly can sometimes be frustrating. And to think coronavirus became one of our vocabulary words a year ago and now we have a vaccine; this is nothing short of a miracle,” said Dr. Jackie Fantes, the chief medical officer at EBNHC.

That miracle came from Cambridge-based Moderna, not too far from the EBNHC.

“I think it’s one of the great things about Boston, Mass., you have such a great area, you are next to so many brilliant minds, right?” said Dr. Jaime Gallegos of the EBNHC, who was the first to get the shot.

With each dose comes protection from COVID-19, something so important for Dr. Fantes.

“I cannot wait to protect my staff; I’ve been worried about them every day and I’ll be happy,” Dr. Fantes said.

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Coming with that protection is the ability for staff to eventually and hopefully connect with patients like they used to.

“I’m looking forward to seeing patients again, to hugging patients again,” said Morgan Brister, a registered nurse.

For the community of East Boston, who have been hit hard by COVID-19, the beginning of the journey out began today.

“This is a great moment. We’ve been waiting a long time for this. Our staff has been through a lot,” said Manny Lopes, the president and CEO of the EBNHC.

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