♪ >>> I'M THINKING THAT I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT ON CNN, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND CHRISTMAS, THAT THEY WERE SHOWING LINES OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE HOSPITALS IN CHINA, WUHAN.

MY EARS WERE DEFINITELY PERKED UP.

>> AND THEN IT WAS JUST ALL UNFOLDING IN NEW YORK.

AND I QUITE LITERALLY WOULD SIT ON MY COUCH AND WATCH THE NEWS ALL DAY LONG, AND I WOULD JUST CRY A LOT.

>> I JUST REMEMBER THE FIRST COVID PATIENT IN VERMONT, WE HAD A VERY LONG INCIDENT COMMAND MEETING AND IT RAN INTO THE NIGHTTIME, AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A GROUP OF MAYBE FIVE OR SIX OF US THAT WERE IN THE CAFETERIA, GOT SOME LEFTOVER FOOD AND WE STARTED HAVING THAT CONVERSATION OF WHAT'S IT GOING TO MEAN TO TRITE PATIENTS, HOW IS IT SPREAD?

AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO INFORMATION COMING OUT OF THAT.

>> OUR PATIENTS ARE GETTING WORK IN GROUPS, WITH ALL SORTS OF THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCES.

WE KNEW WE HAD TO BE REALLY TIGHT IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE MANAGING ADMISSIONS, HOW WE'RE TRACKING STAFF IN ORDER TO KEEP AN OUTBREAK FROM HAPPENING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS UNSETTLING TO NOT HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON HAD.

>> YOU REMEMBER IN THE BEGINNING, A NUMBER OF US HAD CHILDREN, IT WILL JUST BE TWO WEEKS AND THEY CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

IT WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY AROUND, WE DON'T REALIZE WHEN THIS IS GOING TO END.

THE LACK OF CONSISTENT INFORMATION WAS UNNERVING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF MY JOB WAS TO NAVIGATE FEAR.

WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST PATIENT I WAS ON THE FLOOR, I DONNED PPE TO GO INTO THE ROOM, I SHOWED IT WAS SAFE TO GO INTO THE ROOM, IT WAS MORE HELPING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY WOULD BE SAFE >> SO I WENT TO NEW YORK CITY PRETTY MUCH THE WEEKEND THAT COVID EXPLODED AND I TOOK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WENT TO SOME BROADWAY SHOWS AND YEAH JUST KIND OF DID THE CITY STUFF, BUT WE THOUGHT WE WERE BEING CAREFUL.

>> ACTUALLY, I ENDED UP BEING ONE OF THE EARLIEST PATIENTS UNFORTUNATELY.

BECAUSE AROUND MID-MARCH THAT I ACTUALLY CONTRACTED IT, AND I THOUGHT I HAD A SIGN US INFECTION.

AND THEN ON THE DAY I WENT TO URGENT CARE AND WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, IT WAS LIKE EVERYTHING DROPPED OFF A CLIFF.

>> AS COVID FIRST ENTERED VERMONT, HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS BEGAN COLLABORATING.

>> WHEN WE FIRST HEARD FROM OTHER HOSPITAL ASSOCIATIONS, THERE WERE SEVERAL THAT HAD A LOT OF CONFLICT WITH THEIR STATE AGENCIES, WE DIDN'T SEE THAT AT ALL, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE HAD DR. LAVEEN COMMUNICATING WITH US, AND WE WERE WORKING WITH HHS, AND IT SET THE TONE GOING-FORWARD.

>> THERE WASN'T ANY TRADE SECRET, IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE WOULD CALL FROM SPRINGFIELD, FROM UVM MEDICAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE WOULD ALL SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES.

>> THERE WAS ALSO COLLABORATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WITH OUR UVMC LABORATORY.

>> WE LEARNED FROM EACH OTHER CONSTANTLY EMAILING EACH OTHER, IN LIKE POSITIONS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS, HOW ARE YOU CHANGING THIS PROCESS, WHAT'S WORKING FOR YOU, WHAT'S NOT WORKING FOR YOU.

INFORMATION SHARING WAS HUGE.

IT WAS TIME TO BE A PART OF A BIGGER TEAM.

>> AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS, I WAS THINKING, I'M JUST A FACILITY PERSON, I LEARNED I'M MORE THAN THAT, AND OTHER FACILITIES, WE WERE INVOLVED WITH EVERYTHING, EVERY GROUP ALL THE WAY THROUGH FROM THE TESTING ROLLING OUT TO FIGURING OUT WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING IN THE BUILDING, TO THE SECURITY NEEDS TO, WHAT DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR OUR AIR SCHINGS.

>> WE WENT TO THE CDC WEBSITE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS NEEDED IN TERMS OF TESTING FOR COVID.

IT WAS A LOT OF STUDYING, COLLABORATION, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE >> IN THE EARLIER PARTS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE TESTING FOR COVID INVOLVED MULTIPLE TYPES OF SAMPLES, WE WEREN'T SURE WE HAD THE RIGHT SUPPLIES OR TO COLLECT THINGS.

MY BOSS CAME TO ME AND SAID, IT'S FRIDAY.

WE NEED TO HAVE MOBIL TESTING UP AND RUNNING BY WEDNESDAY.

WE DID IT, THREE DAYS LATER WE HAD CARS LINING UP, GOING THROUGH, TESTING PEOPLE, AND THE SYSTEM WORKED.

>> WE HAD TO STAND UP OUR OWN CONTACT TRACING TO TRY TO STOMP OUT SMALL LOCAL OUTBREAKS, AND THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT IT WAS A BIG LIFT.

>> I DIDN'T FEEL WELL FOR ABOUT A MONTH, I FELT REALLY TIRED AND FLEWISH, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SENSE OF SMELL FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

APRIL WAS LIKE CHEST PAIN, SIDE PAIN AND JUST THAT FEELING OF FULLNESS THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO EAT AND I DIDN'T WANT TO REALLY DRINK EITHER.

EVERYTHING THAT I WAS FEELING WASN'T NECESSARILY REFLECTED IN WHAT THE DOCTORS COULD SEE.

THEN IT JUST KIND OF MADE ME FEEL LIKE, MAYBE I'M A LITTLE CRAZY.

>> AS HEALTH CARE WORKERS GRAPPLED WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF A NOVEL PANDEMIC, VIRGINIA POLICY MAKERS DRAFTED LEGISLATION TO HELP THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PROVIDE PATIENT CARE.

TO DO THAT, THEY TURNED TO A COALITION OF HEALTH CARE ADVOCATES.

>> WE WERE ASKED BY THE CHAIR OF THE HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE, BILL LIPPERT ASKED US TO COME UP WITH A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE IN IT ANY FLEXIBILITY WE WERE GOING TO NEED FOR PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

SOME OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I KNOW, GOT INTO A ROOM WITH ONE OF THE LAWYERS WHO HELPS WRITE LEGISLATION, SHE'S ALSO EXPERIENCED IN HEALTH CARE, AND WE BRAINSTORMED AND BETWEEN US WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH EVERY FLEXIBILITY THAT ENDED UP IN THE FINAL BILL, AND SHE DRAFTED IT, WE REALIZED QUICKLY THAT THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO MEET AND THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF WORK FOR US TO DO TOGETHER.

>> TO MAKE ROOM FOR A POSSIBLE COVID SEARCH, HOSPITALS TOOK MANY STEPS, INCLUDING CANCELLING ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, STANDING UP TEMPORARY UNITS AND ADOPTING NEW SAFETY PROCEDURES.

>> FIRST IT WAS VERY DEAD HERE, THE ER WAS DEAD.

AND PEOPLE WERE STAYING AT HOME.

THE SURGERIES WERE CANCELLED.

THE PREOPERATIVE SPACE WAS OPENED UP FOR THE COVID PATIENTS WE WERE ANTICIPATING COMING TO THE HOSPITAL, SO WE OPENED UP A COVID UNIT.

>> WE HAD PHYSICAL THERAPY STOPPED AND OUR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TOOK ON FULL TIME HOUSEKEEPING ROLES.

>> OUR RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS STAYED IN HOUSE FOR PATIENTS THAT WERE SICK.

OUR ANESTHESIA DEPARTMENT STEPPED UP AND VOLUNTEERED TO BE THE PROVIDERS THAT RAN OUR VENTILATORS.

>> WE DEVELOPED SURGE MODELS, SHOULD OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SURGE, WE WERE EQUIPPED WITH ALMOST A MINI-ER.

>> TO DELIVER A PATIENT TRAY DOWN TO THE EMERGENY ROOM IF THEY HAD BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND NEEDED TO EAT, OR IF THE STAFF NEEDED FOOD.

WE HAD TO CALL THEM AND SAY, MEET US IN THE HALLWAY.

>> WHAT WE DID HERE WAS MOVE TO VIRTUAL WORK FOR ALL OF OUR OUTPATIENT WORK WHICH HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

SO PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THEIR THERAPISTS AND DOCTORS VIRTUALLY.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUSTAINER AND HELP TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY >> WHEN THERE STARTED TO BE OUTBREAKS IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, IT BECAME CLEAR QUICKLY THAT THE BEST PLACE TO TREAT THESE PATIENTS WOULD BE IN THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, HOSPITALS AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES COLLABORATED TOGETHER TO BRING IN STAFF AND RESOURCES AND HELP TREAT INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY WERE IN THEIR FACILITY.

>> THERE WERE MANY MORE PATIENTS BEING CARED FOR AT HOME THAN WERE COVID POSITIVE.

OFTEN FOUR TIMES AS MANY.

TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE WITH AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE AT HOME IS PRETTY COMPLICATED.

THERE'S NO WAY TO CONTROL WHO ELSE IS IN THE HOME, OTHER THAN THE PATIENT.

A HOSPITAL CAN HAVE A VISITOR POLICY THAT'S PRETTY STRICT.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT AT HOME.

PPE IS DONNED AND DAFT IN DRIVE WAYS AND GARAGES IN HOME HEALTH.

PEOPLE ARE USING THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES TO GO FROM ONE HOME TO ANOTHER.

THERE WERE NATIONAL SHORTAGES OF PPE AND SO WE WORKED TOGETHER TO TRY TO GET MORE PPE INTO THE HANDS OF OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

>> SUPPLY OF PPE HAS NEVER BEEN A CONCERN OF OURS.

NURSES, CLINICIANS, PEOPLE WHO USE N-95s WOULD DISCARD THEM AFTER USE.

>> THE HARDEST THING FOR ME WAS THE WEEKEND I HAD TO TELL STAFF TO WEAR THEIR SAME PPE FOR TWO TO THREE SHIFTS IN A ROW.

>> WE NEEDED PPE IN HOME HEALTH, IN NURSING HOMES, SO THERE WAS -- IT WAS CLEAR TO POLICY MAKERS THAT WE NEEDED IT AT HOSPITALS, BUT I THINK THOSE OTHER SETTINGS IT WAS LESS CLEAR.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HELPED SET UP THESE REGIONAL HUBS WHERE THEY PROVIDED HOSPITALS A UNIT TO DECONTAMINATE N95 MASKS SO THEY COULD BE USED UP TO 10 TIMES.

>> WE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET SOME PPE SHIPPED TO US FROM CHINA, THERE WERE FAMILIES OF STUDENTS FROM ST. JAY ACADEMY THAT WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND FACILITATED THINGS FROM THEIR END.

THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER ABOUT THAT, IS THE SHIPPING COSTS COST MORE THAN THE PPE.

>> WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD TAKE DELIVERY OF MORE N95 MASSINGS.

THEY RETROFITTED SCUBA MASKS.

EMPLOYEES WOULD WEAR THAT WHILE THEY WERE TAKING CARE OF COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS.

>> ONE OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES HERE HELPED US THROUGH THEIR PURCHASING STREAM OVERSEAS AND THEY GOT IN SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND MASKS AND DISTRIBUTED THEM THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> I HAD ORDERED SOME FACE SHIELDS AND STUFF TO GIVE TO THE ER, THEY WERE THE ONES THAT NEEDED IT.

IT TOOK FOREVER TO GET HERE.

STAPLES HAD A BUNCH, AND THEY DONATED BOXES TO US.

>> WE HAD A HUGE SEWING CIRCLE.

WE COULD HAND THINGS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY RESERVING THOSE MEDICAL GRADE PRODUCTS FOR OURSELVES, IT WAS REALLY NICE.

>> PPE WASN'T THE ONLY THING IN SHORT SUPPLY DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE NEED THESE AIR SCRUBBERS AND NOBODY HAS THEM.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THESE EXHAUST FANS IN AND NOBODY HAS THEM.

>> IT WAS EVERYTHING.

SOMETIMES WE COULDN'T GET BACON, SOMETIMES WE COULDN'T GET CHICKEN.

SOMETIMES WE -- YOU NEVER KNEW.

>> AND THEN THE SHIPPING PRICES GETTING HIKED UP, THAT WAS EYE OPENING TOO.

THINGS WE WOULD GET IN TWO DAYS FOR 100 LESS DOLLARS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, TO A RESOURCE LIMITED HOSPITAL, NAWAZ SHOCKING AT FIRST.

>> DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL BECAME IN VERY SHORT SUPPLY.

THERE HAD TO BE INGENUITY BY PHARMACISTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CREATE WAYS TO MAKE WHAT WE USED TO BUY BEFORE COMMERCIALLY.

>> LIKE COFFEE CUPS AND STIRRERS, AND SPONGES.

THERE WERE SO MANY TIMES WHERE I WAS LIKE THIS IS WEIRD, THIS IS AMAZON, AMERICA, THINGS JUST COME.

WHERE ARE ALL THE THINGS.

>> I REMEMBER WALKING INTO THE MARKET AND BEING LIKE, THERE IS NO CHICKEN.

THERE IS NO PASTA SAUCE.

>> I WAS OUT OF PAPER TOWELS.

I LOOK AROUND AND SPRINTED TOWARD THE PAPER TOWELS, THIS IS WHAT MY LIFE HAS BECOME.

>> I LOVED AVOCADOS AND I'M A VEGETARIAN, AND I COULDN'T GET AVOCADOS.

>> I REMEMBER AT THAT TIME THINKING, IT'S REALLY ODD, WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO HAVE EVERY CAN OF PEAS, NOBODY LIKES CANNED PEAS.

>> I THINK THE MOST COMMON ANSWER IS TOILET PAPER.

>> I THINK WE WERE ALL SURPRISED AT THE RUN ON TOILET PAPER.

>> WE DID PRETTY WELL WITH THE TOILET PAPER, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKED OUT, BUT I HAPPENED TO BUY A BIG AMOUNT WITHOUT KNOWING A PANDEMIC WAS COMING.

>> THE SHORTAGES I SAW WAS THE ABILITY TO GET SOME OF MY CATTLE SLAUGHTERED, BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE GETTING THEIR MEAT PROCESSED.

>> WE COULDN'T GET FLOUR.

2 WASN'T THAT THERE WASN'T FLOUR, IT WAS THAT THERE WASN'T PACKAGING FOR THE FLOUR.

RED HAND BAKERY IS A WONDERFUL BAKERY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY MADE THEIR FLOUR AVAILABLE IN BULK.

>> OUR COMMUNITY WAS VERY AFFIRMING AND ENCOURAGING TO ALL OF US HERE AS HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

THEY DONATED MEALS, MAPLE SYRUP.

THEY SENT US CARDS AND LETTERS.

>> ONE OF OUR OTHERS WAS THE LOCAL DISTILLERY STEPPING UP AND DOING 55 GALLON DRUMS OF HOMEMADE SANITIZER.

YOUR HANDS SMELLED LIKE APPLES, BUT WE HAD HAND SANITIZER.

>> ALL THE TREES WERE COVERED WITH HEARTS AND THAT WAS QUITE AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND THANKED US.

>> THE WAY THE STAFF HERE RESPONDED WAS SELFLESS, AND I'M GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE FOR THAT.

THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A UNIT WITH ESSENTIALLY NO BACKUP, AND SOMEONE GETS QUARANTINED FOR TEN DAYS, AND THE REST OF THE STAFF WHO'S ALREADY AT FULL TIME JUST FILLS THEIR SHIFTS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN A LOT OF PLACES.

>> WATCHING THE EMPLOYEES STRUGGLE WITH CARING FOR THESE PATIENTS AND LOSING SOME OF THEM WAS INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING.

AND KNOWING THAT EVERY TIME THEY WENT INTO A ROOM IT WAS CHALLENGING.

BUT EVERY TIME THEY WENT INTO A ROOM, THEY WERE PROVIDING CARE THAT WAS NECESSARY.

>> SEEING THE TRANSITION OF A PATIENT THAT COMES IN AND THEY'RE BREATHING AND TALKING, AND THEY END UP IN THE ICU WITH A COUPLE HOURS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FWREEJ.

>> THE SICK PATIENTS IN THE ICU, THAT'S WHO REQUIRES A OF CARE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT GET BETTER WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS AND COME OUT.

THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET BETTER.

>> IT DEPENDS, A LOT OF THE TIMES WHEN WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THE PATIENT IS NEEDING TO BE INTUBATED THEY'RE REALLY STRUGGLING TO BREATHE.

THERE'S OFTEN MORE FEAR THAN ANYTHING.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY AFRAID.

BUT THEN THERE ARE SOME CASES THAT PATIENTS ARE LETHARGIC, SO THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> I HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT PEOPLE NEEDING TO BE INTUBATED.

I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT I KNEW IT WAS PRETTY SERIOUS WHEN THE OXYGEN LEVEL KEPT GOING DOWN, THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

AND I JUST -- I JUST WASRY SIGNED -- I WAS EITHER GOING TO LIVE OR DIE, I HAD TO -- THEY HAD TO TRY SOMETHING, OTHERWISE I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> SEEING THE FEAR IN THEIR EYES IT SPILLED OVER TO US.

WE WEREN'T ALLOWING VISITORS, SO WE WERE THERE FAMILY IN THIS TIME.

BEING WITH THEM, NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEM SEE OUR MOUTHS OR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS IN TALKING TO THEM THROUGH BIG SUITS.

>> THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARSHEST THINGS ABOUT THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC, YOU HAVE THE SICKEST PEOPLE, AND THEY CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY VISIT THEM, AND THAT'S DETRIMENTAL TO THE PATIENT, TO THE FAMILIES, IT'S HEART BREAKING.

>> THE LEVEL OF SUFFERING THAT WE'VE SEEN.

WE HAVE PATIENTS THAT CAN'T HAVE LOVED ONES WITH THEM, WE HAVE PATIENTS THAT ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FAMILY CAN'T BE HERE.

WE'VE HELD THE TELEPHONE TO FACE TIME PRIOR TO INTUBATING A COVID POSITIVE PATIENT KNOWING THAT'S PROBABLY THE LAST TIME THEY'RE GOING TO TALK TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBER, THAT TAKES A TOLL ON YOU.

>> I SEE HOW BRUTAL THIS IS.

IN MY ENTIRE CAREER, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE STRUGGLE SO HARD TO BREATHE AND IT'S DEVASTATING.

AND I'VE DONE THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

I'VE NEVER SEEN PEOPLE STRUGGLE LIKE THEY DO WITH COVID.

>> WHEN I CAME OUT OF THAT AND SEEING ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, YOU COULD SEE THE RELIEF ON THE DOCTORS AND NURSES FACES WHEN I WOKE UP.

YEAH, WE GOT ONE.

WE MADE IT THROUGH.

THAT TIME IT WAS PRETTY TOUCH AND GO.

THERE WEREN'T TOO MANY THAT MADE IT THROUGH IN THOSE EARLY DAYS.

>> AS HARD AS IT WAS TO CARE FOR COVID PATIENTS.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS ALSO STRUGGLED TO CARE FOR THOSE AT HOME, ESPECIALLY AS SCHOOLS CLOSED.

>> THAT WAS MORE CHALLENGING FOR US IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES, TRYING TO ANTICIPATE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO FOR CHILD CARE AND WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WAS OPEN AND THEN CLOSED, MAYBE GOING TO REOPEN AND THEN DIDN'T.

>> SCHOOLS RELY ON OUR SCHOOLS FOR FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH.

WHEN KIDS ARE THERE, WE CAN GET TO THEM, KIDS NEED THEIR TEACHERS FOR SUPPORT, THEIR COUNSELORS AT SCHOOL FOR SUPPORT.

SCHOOLS ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF MANY COMMUNITIES, WHEN THEY CLOSE DOWN, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES FELT IT.

>> I AM A MOM AND A WIFE, AND MY HUSBAND IS A TEACHER, WE WERE FORTUNATE HE WAS ABLE TO BE HOME WHEN SCHOOL SHUT DOWN.

BUT KNOWING I WAS FACING COVID PATIENTS AND KNOWING THAT AT THAT POINT THERE WAS NO VACCINE, AND I HAD TO COME HOME TO THEM WAS SOME OF THE SCARIEST TIMES I'VE EVER HAD AS A NURSE.

THE STORIES YOU HEAR ABOUT NURSES TAKING OFF THEIR SCRUBS OUTSIDE AND GOING STRAIGHT UP TO SHOWER BEFORE THEY HUG THEIR KIDS WAS REAL AND SOMETHING I DID AT MY HOUSE.

>> IT WAS EXHAUSTING.

I COULDN'T BE THE MOTHER I WANTED TO BE, AND I HAD TO CHOSE TO DEVOTE TO THE MISSION OR BE HOME.

SO I CHOSE THE MISSION.

>> WE HAD SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT OPTED TO SEND THEIR LITTLES TO GRANDPARENTS OR AUNTS AND UNCLES AND WENT WEEKS AND MONTHS WITHOUT SEEING THEIR CHILDREN.

WE HAD STAFF THAT HAD TO MAKE HARD CARE DECISIONS.

DO THEY RESIGN THEIR POSITION AND PROTECT A VULNERABLE LOVED ONE AT HOME OR DO THEY RELOCATE AND SLEEP AT THE HOSPITAL OR STAY IN A HOTEL ROOM.

>> MY CHILD CARE WAS AMAZING, AND SHE CLOSED TO ALL FAMILIES EXCEPT MINE.

SHE TOOK CARE OF MY KIDS WHILE I WORKED A LOT OF EXTRA HOURS.

IT WAS A RELIEF TO GO HOME AT NIGHT AND TO BE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE REALITY OF THE WORKPLACE THROUGH MY CHILDREN AND THEIR INNOCENCE.

>> AS VERMONTS ENDURED THE HOLIDAY SEASON, GOOD NEWS ARRIVED IN THE FORM OF VACCINES, WHICH VERMONT ROLLED OUT MORE SUCCESSFULLY THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

FIRST TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THEN THROUGH AGE BANS BEGINNING WITH THE OLDEST VERMONTERS.

>> IN FEBRUARY, THEY DECIDED IT WAS ROLLING OUT TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY, THEY DECIDED TO CREATE A HUB, A VACCINE HUB.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ASKED TO LEAD IT.

IT WAS OVER AT THE OLD JCPENNEY AT THE MALL.

TOGETHER WE DID 25,192 SHOTS.

THAT WAS HONESTLY -- 40 YEARS OF NURSING, MY MOST GRATIFYING WORK EVER.

WE CALLED IT THE HAPPIEST PLACE IN MEDICINE.

EVERYONE WAS HAPPY TO BE THERE.

WE HAD ONE WOMAN COME IN, AND SHE HAD FIVE INCH STILETTO HEELS ON, BRIGHT PINK.

SHE WAS DRESSED TO THE NINES.

WE SAID, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

SHE SAID, RIGHT HERE, AND I'M DRESSING FOR IT.

>> ONE OF MY JOBS WAS REALIZING THAT MANY BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

I VOLUNTEERED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST SO PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND IT'S SAFE AND THAT IT'S OKAY TO HAVE THE VACCINE AND PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AS WELL AS YOURSELF.

>> THE SECOND PORTION OF THE VACCINE WAS LIKE DR. KAMINSKY CALLED IT A REBOOT OF MY IMMUNE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE, OH, I KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND ALL OF THESE ISSUES, LIKE PHANTOM SMELLS AND THE EXHAUSTION AND HEADACHES AND CHEST PAIN AND SHORT OF BREATH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THEY JUST KIND OF SORTED THEMSELVES OUT AND WENT AWAY.

IT WAS AMAZING.

>> THE PROUDEST I'VE EVER BEEN TO WORK FOR HOME HEALTH WAS DURING OUR VACCINATION EFFORT.

WE KNEW EARLY WE HAD MANY PATIENTS WHO WERE HOMEBOUND, WHO WERE DESPERATE TO BE VACCINATED, WHO HAD NOT SEEN ALMOST ANYONE DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHO WERE INCREDIBLY ISOLATED, WHO WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO VACCINE CLINICS, I THINK VERMONT UNDERSTOOD THAT NEED BEFORE MANY OTHER STATES.

AND SO WE WERE PART OF THE PLANNING MUCH EARLIER THAN WE SAW IN OTHER PLACES.

IT WAS A COMBINATION EFFORT BETWEEN HOME HEALTH AGENCIES AND EMS.

>> WE'RE TASKED BY THE STATE TO DO AT HOME VACCINATIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOUSE BOUND OR INFIRM.

PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T GET OUT TO ANY OF THE CLINICS.

THE STATE APPROACHED IT AT ONE POINT AND SAID, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU DO AT ONCE?

WE CAME UP WITH DOING A MOBILE VACCINATION CLINIC.

WE'RE AT THUNDER ROAD IN BARRY.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME EARLY KNOW WE'RE HERE, AND THEY WANT IT.

OTHERS HAVE BEEN QUITE RELUCTANT AND WE HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM.

WHY SHOULD I GET IT?

BECAUSE YOU CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES, YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO BE SICK, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SICK YOURSELF.

AND YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION IN SOCIETY TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.

AND BY VIRTUE OF GETTING A VACCINATION, YOU MAKE EVERYONE ELSE SAFER.

>> WE FEEL VERY ANGRY AND I THINK IT IS THE RIGHT WORD TO USE WHEN WE HAVE PATIENTS WHO GOT INFECTED BY UNVACCINATED FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CAME TO VISIT THEM, EVEN THOUGH THE PATIENTS THEMSELVES DID THE BEST THEY COULD TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EXPOSURE.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNVACCINATED.

IT'S A BURDEN ON NURSING, WE'RE IN A BAD NURSING SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW, PARTLY AS A RESULT OF ALL THIS.

AND THIS IS JUST MAKING IT WORSE.

>> NONE OF US ASKED FOR THIS PANDEMIC.

NONE OF US DID, BUT HERE WITH THIS HUGE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF HOW DO I WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS.

>> I SEE A LOT OF FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH LOSING THEIR LOVED ONES THROUGH THIS.

AND IT'S HEART BREAKING.

GOING-FORWARD, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

I KNOW ONE MOMENT IS ALL IT TAKES.

>> I THINK THE THING I'VE LEARNED IS TO REALLY TRY TO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I SHOULD APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS.

THAT THAT'S A THING WE COULD LOSE.

>> WE DIDN'T HAVE A FLU SEASON LAST YEAR, AND IT GOES BACK TO HAND WASHING, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND WEARING A MASK.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOCIETY LEARNED THOSE LESSONS GOING-FORWARD AND TOOK SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO BE KIND TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.

>> VERMONT IS A COLLEGIAL STATE WITH A LOT OF TRUST IN UNIVERSITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS EASIER TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID, AS REFLECTED IN THE VACCINE NUMBERS TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE ALL OF US SAFER.

AND THAT'S BOURNE OUT NICELY.

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE SHOULD FEEL BLESSED AND LUCKY TO HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT HAS ULTIMATELY BEEN THE BEST OR LOWEST RATE OF INFECTION OVER THE UNITED STATES DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> AS A HOSPITAL, A COMMUNITY AND A STATE WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH.

IT COMES BACK TO HOW WE COLLABORATED.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATES SEE THEIR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AS COMPETITORS, I'M SO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HERE IN VERMONT WE'RE NOT COMPETITORS, WE'RE PARTNERS.

>> WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND WE WILL WEATHER THIS NEXT PHASE OR WHATEVER THESE NEXT PHASES ARE, AND WE'LL DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE A TEAM.

>>> VERMONT PBS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING