SALT LAKE CITY – The first Utah veterans who lived in a long-term care facility received the COVID-19 vaccines at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Department Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Monday.
It was a life-changing opportunity for Dana Hare, 39, who served twice in Iraq and is now undergoing a drug abuse program as a result of her post-traumatic stress disorder. He’s been in the hospital for more than two months.
“I didn’t think I would be the first person,” Hare told KSL. “I want to start meeting people I know and love. I want to take off those masks and start meeting again.”
Hare said the isolation as a result of COVID-19 has been difficult to deal with.
“It has been difficult, this is already a symptom of our disease. We need interaction with our families – this is one of the things that keeps us healthy,” said Hare.
That is the same sentiment for veteran Christian Smith, 41, who is also undergoing a substance abuse program to put his life in order. He was the second person in the hospital to be vaccinated.
Here is the first Utah veteran (non-health worker) receiving the #Vaccine for covid@ KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/TTYnybtSmR
– Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) December 28, 2020
“I feel a little guilty. I am 41 years old. I think there are older people who need this,” Smith told KSL. He said isolation was also a big challenge for him, as he tries to recover from his PTSD.
“It really affected my recovery and I immediately started fighting. It really hurt my recovery,” he said.
Medical center administrators said Monday was a great day to reopen the doors for these veterans.
“It’s better than Christmas,” said Ashley Phillips, the primary care nurse at the medical center. “I want to be able to give all of our veterans this vaccine as soon as possible, so that they can re-engage in that society. We don’t want them to be socially isolated in any way.”
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Dan Rascon