A South Elgin resident was the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Naperville’s Edward Hospital, as a historic vaccination campaign gets underway.

“We’re thankful for the scientists who have discovered this vaccine,” said Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, chief physician executive and COVID-19 incident commander for the Edward-Elmhurst Health System. “This is a historic day. And honestly it’s going to take a long time to get not just our healthcare workers vaccinated, but the communities as well. So I think today is about hope.”

Shortly after 2:15 p.m., 37-year-old respiratory therapist Aminderjit Dhanoa, from South Elgin, rolled up his right sleeve and medical assistant Nikki Carini-Wardecki delivered the first dose of the vaccine.

It was the first of 975 thawed doses of the vaccine Edward Hospital intended to deliver Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. The remainder of the 1,950 doses it received in this first shipment will remain in ultra-cold storage until then.

The vaccinations at Edward come as nearby hospitals, including in Elgin, Aurora and elsewhere in DuPage County began vaccinating staff Wednesday and Thursday. This first round of the Pfizer vaccine is designated for health care workers in 50 counties that have seen the highest per capita death rates from COVID-19.

The DuPage County Health Department received its first shipment of 13,650 doses from the state Wednesday, officials have said, with additional shipments expected. Neighboring Kane County also received its initial shipment Wednesday, containing 4,795 doses. Both health departments then distributed the vaccines to hospitals.

By Thursday, Dhanoa took a break from his workday to walk over to the Edward Hospital conference room and receive the vaccine. He had COVID-19 in October and was among the first to sign up to receive the dose because he didn’t want to take any chances.

“I’m still going to take all the precautions and everything,” he said. “But it’s just a peace of mind that I have my vaccine now.”

Out of those who signed up early, the hospital selected him to highlight the role a variety of medical professionals have played in combating COVID-19, spokesman Keith Hartenberger said.

And Dhanoa has been on the front lines of the virus. Shortly after he received the vaccine, he thought of the patients he has seen in the COVID-19 intensive care unit, where he said he works most.

“It’s been horrible,” he said. “I mean I’ve never seen anything like that. Some patients, they get better soon, but some patients, they just struggle everyday waiting for them to recover. Some of them, they just don’t.”

They were delivered in a hospital conference room where 15 vaccination stations were set up. Each station was staffed Thursday afternoon with a medical worker who would deliver the doses, and walking among the stations was a worker wearing a neon green vest with the phrase “mass vaccination supervisor” across the back. On one side, a whiteboard reminded those receiving the vaccine their second doses were due Jan. 7.

By 3 p.m. Thursday, the line of hospital employees waiting to receive their scheduled vaccinations stretched down the hallway outside the conference room.

The Edward-Elmhurst Health System, which also includes Elmhurst Hospital, has received a total of 3,900 doses of the vaccine in the first shipment. Hospital executives said all slots to receive those doses filled up within hours, and the hospital has a waiting list of people looking to sign up for future shipments.

Still, it is just a start. The health system has roughly 8,000 employees to vaccinate, plus additional affiliated providers.

In the meantime, Edward CEO Joseph Dant cautioned that both those who receive the vaccine and the general public, which is still awaiting it, must continue to wear masks, wash hands and maintain distancing, likely for months until enough people receive the vaccine.

“This is a turning point for us,” he said. “But we can’t let our guard down yet.”

sfreishtat@tribpub.com