Orange County

‘Liquid gold’: COVID-19 vaccines heading to frontline workers beginning Wednesday

ORLANDO, Fla. — Frontline workers in Orlando will start getting their COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday.

AdventHealth is one of the five hospital systems to get the Pfizer vaccines. The hospital expects about 20,000 doses to arrive on Tuesday.

Orlando Health plans to start vaccinating its frontline workers on Friday.

READ: Florida reports 138 more coronavirus-related deaths as country’s death toll tops 300,000

As shots of what many are calling “liquid gold” make their way into hospitals around the U.S., many health care workers are preparing for their turn.

“Those shots will be given to very high contact and high exposure, healthcare providers who are working in ICU or emergency rooms,” said Dr. Aftab Khan, who sees patients in Osceola and Polk counties.

AdventHealth told staff appointments will take about an hour due to an observation period after the shot is required.

READ: ‘This is monumental’: First frontline workers receive COVID-19 vaccine in Florida

Khan said the latest Pew study shows about 15% of health care workers are very resistant to getting the vaccine.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.