President Joe Biden’s promise that 100 million Americans will be vaccinated in his first 100 days in office is nearing completion. In this week, Launch of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine added to the arsenal.
For the people who shipped that vaccine, it was a very special delivery.
At McKesson, the company that distributed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the first deliveries on Monday gave hope and a message. The first one read “The first J&J package – be healthy”.
Kamryn Brown, a supervisor at the Kentucky facility that handles vaccine shipments, told CBS News: “It all started with our great director of operations. After that, we all signed our own messages and names. Mine was “vaccinated. Love Kamryn. ‘”
Brown and the other supervisors, including Kristi Larson, signed the first tape.
“It was a humiliating moment, knowing that we now have the vaccine in our hands and we were able to ship it and send it to so many people,” Larson said. “I think I cried half the time.”
With a single dose and regular refrigeration, this vaccine can be more easily reached in community health centers and in rural America. That’s why, for Brown, this is not a job – it’s a mission.
“For me, it’s like I’m one of the frontline troops against war against COVID,” she said.
And these troops trained. Prior to FDA approval, they performed exercises using soap boxes similar in size to vaccine packs.
“We practiced with Irish Spring soap to prepare when we started receiving orders,” Larson said. She added, “It smells great.”
The FDA has signed and has signed its name.
“I hope that when they saw that message, they knew we cared and we will certainly continue to strive to make sure they are well vaccinated, well stocked and that we will hit this COVID in the ass,” Brown said.