This week, Vermont passed milestones of both despair and hope. On a somber note, Vermont saw its 100th death from Covid-19 since the pandemic began in the state nine months ago. On the other side of the split screen was a hopeful milestone: On Tuesday, an emergency department nurse at the University of Vermont Medical Center became the first person in Vermont to receive the new Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer that just received an emergency use authorization from the FDA. Thousands of Vermonters will be vaccinated by the end of this month.

Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine observed, “This is a pivotal moment, one that marks the beginning of the end of the pandemic.” But he tempered his message by noting that it will take months for the vaccine to bring Covid-19 under control, and people must continue to be vigilant. Levine warned, “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of everyone keeping up their efforts to protect themselves and prevent spread of the virus.”

On this week’s Vermont Conversation, we talk with Christine Finley, the immunization program manager at the Vermont Department of Health, who is helping to coordinate the statewide program to vaccinate Vermonters against Covid-19.