SALT LAKE CITY – The first Utah veterans living in a long-term care facility received COVID-19 vaccines at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Center in Salt Lake City on Monday.
It was a life-changing opportunity for Dana Hare, 39, who toured Iraq twice and is now undergoing a substance abuse program as a result of her post-traumatic stress disorder. He has been in 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 handle.
“It’s been difficult, that’s already a symptom of our illness. We need interaction with our families, it’s one of the things that keeps us healthy,” Hare said.
This is the same sentiment for veteran Christian Smith, 41, who is also conducting a substance abuse program to get his life back. He was the second person in the hospital to be vaccinated.
Here is the first Utah veteran (non-health worker) to get the #Vaccine against covid@ KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/TTYnybtSmR
– Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) December 28, 2020
“I feel a little guilty. I’m 41. I think there are older people who need it,” Smith told KSL. He said the isolation has also been very difficult for him as he tries to recover from his PTSD.
“It affected my recovery a lot and I immediately started fighting. It hurt my recovery a lot,” he said.
Medical center administrators said Monday was a huge day to reopen the doors for these veterans.
“It’s better than Christmas,” said Ashley Phillips, the head nurse in primary care at the medical center. “I want to be able to administer this vaccine to all of our veterans as soon as possible so that they can get back involved in this society. We don’t want them to be at all socially isolated.”
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