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First shots of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine given in Pittsburgh

The first shipment of the new Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived about 9 a.m. Monday at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in a UPS van. An acute care nurse practitioner in the surgical intensive care unit at Children’s was the first to get the vaccine. Charmaine Pykosh, who has more than 30 years of experience, said everyone in her unit wants to go first, but she was chosen after a vote by text.

A UPS van carrying the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrives at Children’s Hospital on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
A UPS truck navigates into the UPMC Children’s Hospital loading dock garage on 45th Street delivering the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette)
Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, a physician at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, gives an elbow bump to Tami Minnier, chief quality officer, before receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine with four other healthcare workers at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Charmaine Pykosh, an acute care nurse practitioner, gives a thumbs up while receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Tami Minnier, chief quality officer, at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. Ms. Pykosh was the first person out of five healthcare workers to receive the vaccine shortly after it arrived at the facility. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Tami Minnier, chief quality officer, holds a case of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine after receiving it from the hospital’s pharmacy and before administering it to five healthcare workers at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Ja’Ray Gamble, a transporter at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, receives Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Tami Minnier, chief quality officer, at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. Five healthcare workers received the vaccine shortly after it arrived at the facility. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Tami Minnier, chief quality officer, disposes of a needle after giving a healthcare worker Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. Five healthcare workers received the vaccine shortly after it arrived at the facility. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Tami Minnier, chief quality officer, administers Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Manny Philavong, an environmental services supervisor, at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. Five healthcare workers received the vaccine shortly after it arrived at the facility. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Christian Schott, a nurse practitioner, receives Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Tami Minnier, chief quality officer, at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Lawrenceville. Five healthcare workers received the vaccine shortly after it arrived at the facility. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)