A group of health workers in Oregon, trapped in the snow, decided to offer coronavirus vaccinations to their stranded co-drivers to avoid wasting their remaining doses of the drug.
As the New York Times reports, Michael Weber, director of public health in Josephine County, Oregon, found himself stranded in the middle of the highway during a snowstorm. He and a group of public health workers took doses of the Moderna vaccine to Grants Pass, about 30 miles from the site.
When they realized they could get stuck in the way for hours, the group of health workers decided to offer the vaccine to those who were also stranded around them. Weber told the Times that most drivers laughed and declined the shot due to the unusual nature of the situation. According to Weber, a doctor and an ambulance were on hand to oversee the administration.
“We had a person who was so happy, he took off his shirt and jumped out of the car,” said Weber.
“It was a strange conversation,” added Weber. Imagine you’re stranded on the side of the road in a snowstorm and have someone come up and say, ‘Hey. Do you want a shot in the arm? ”
Six doses of the vaccine were eventually administered on the snow-covered highway, the Times reports.
“Honestly, once we knew we wouldn’t be back in town in time to use the vaccine, it was just an obvious choice,” Weber said, saying it was “one of the coolest surgeries. ” used to be.
“Our number 1 rule at the moment is that nothing is wasted.”
The Hill has reached out to Josephine County Public Health for more information on the story.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 600,000 doses have been distributed to Oregon with more than 325,000 doses administered so far.