PLEA. >> WE HAVE BEEN VERY DISCOURAGED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SAVE VERY MANY. JON: AMBER ELLIS WORKS IN THE COVID UNIT AT ST. VINCENT’S EAST. SHE HAS SEEN TOO MANY PATIENTS SHE HAS TREATED LOSE THEIR LIVES. THAT IS WHY IN AUGUST, SHE SIGNED UP FOR MODERNA’S VACCINE TRIAL. ELLIS SAID THE SHOT SHE RECEIVED CAUSED ARM PAIN AND TWO DAYS OF MILD FATIGUE. >> IT FELT AS IF I WAS GETTING OVER A COLD. TO ME, THOSE SYMPTOMS SAY I WAS HAVING AN IMMUNE RESPONSE TO THE VACCINE ITSELF AND MY BODY WAS STARTING TO BUILD IMMUNITY TO COVID. JON: MINOR DISCOMFORT SHE SAYS WORTH ENDURING TO PROTECT HERSELF AND HER FAMILY. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE PANDEMIC HIT ELLIS PAINFULLY HARD. HER FATHER STEVE EWING CONTRACTED COVID AND ENDED UP ON A VENTILATOR IN HER UNIT BEFORE PASSING AWAY. >> HE TOLD US HE LOVED US AND HE WOULD SEE US ON THE OTHERS. — ON THE OTHER SIDE. JON: EWING DIED AT THE AGE OF 63. ONLY WEEKS BEFORE A VACCINE WILL COME TO ALABAMA. >> YOU CAN SEE HOW IMPORTANT THIS VACCINE IS TO ME, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE SAVED HIM. JON: SO HER MESSAGE TO THOSE AFRAID OF THE IMMUNITY-PRODUCING SHOTS? >> IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY FOR YOU. IF YOU CAN TOLERATE IT, GO GET IT.
Nurse makes COVID-19 vaccine plea after father’s death, taking part in Moderna trial
Amber Ellis participated in Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial in August
Updated: 8:36 PM CST Dec 8, 2020
A Springville nurse who lost her father to COVID-19 in the same ICU unit where she works is urging the public to get the vaccine when it’s made available. Learn more in the video above.”It doesn’t have to be that way for you,” said Amber Ellis, a nurse in the COVID-19 unit at St. Vincent’s East in Birmingham who took part in Moderna’s vaccine trial in August. “Go get the vaccine if you’re healthy and you can tolerate it. Go get it.”Ellis’ plea for people to get the vaccine comes after the death of her 63-year-old father, Steve Ewing, who was put on a ventilator in his daughter’s ICU unit before passing away.”He told us all that he loved us and that he would see us on the other side,” Ellis said.Click here for the latest COVID-19 news and numbers in Alabama.
SPRINGVILLE, Ala. —
A Springville nurse who lost her father to COVID-19 in the same ICU unit where she works is urging the public to get the vaccine when it’s made available. Learn more in the video above.
“It doesn’t have to be that way for you,” said Amber Ellis, a nurse in the COVID-19 unit at St. Vincent’s East in Birmingham who took part in Moderna’s vaccine trial in August. “Go get the vaccine if you’re healthy and you can tolerate it. Go get it.”
Ellis’ plea for people to get the vaccine comes after the death of her 63-year-old father, Steve Ewing, who was put on a ventilator in his daughter’s ICU unit before passing away.
“He told us all that he loved us and that he would see us on the other side,” Ellis said.
Click here for the latest COVID-19 news and numbers in Alabama.