Vaccine Stories

Jamie Pate has worked on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic as a children’s hospital emergency room nurse. After her own battle with COVID-19 left her in the intensive care unit (ICU), her decision to receive the vaccine was an easy one.

Earlier this year, BlueCross employee Kerri Brewer shared her experience with the COVID-19 vaccine. Recently, Kerri let us know that she was a rare breakthrough case – an individual who contracts COVID-19 after being vaccinated.

For Bianca Micheletti, a senior media development specialist at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, concern about COVID-19 began early on in 2020. “I’ve had asthma since birth, so I was freaked out when COVID-19 started spreading,” she says. “I worry about anything respiratory-related.”

For brothers Jackson and Parker Love and their mother Tracy Fiore-Love, vaccination was a family affair. All three went together to receive their first doses of the Pfizer vaccine in March, followed by their second in April.

BlueCross OnLine Help Analyst Associate Shamila Montgomery witnessed first-hand what COVID-19 was capable of when it took the life of her grandmother. So once vaccines became available to her age group, she wanted to be the first in line to get one.

Megan Arthur has witnessed COVID-19 working in the ER and within her own family. After conducting her own research and speaking with her child’s pediatrician, she decided the risk of the virus outweighed any potential risk of the vaccine.

Roy Vaughn, BlueCross SVP and chief human resources officer, knew all along that he was going to get the COVID-19 vaccine, in order to help slow the spread of the virus, protect his loved ones, and help things get back to normal.

Noelle Omer, BlueCross communications manager, believes the COVID-19 vaccines represent an opportunity — to move beyond fear, and to help protect others who may not be able to receive it.

A volunteer with the Jasper Fire Department, Kerri Brewer knows the importance of listening to expertise from trained professionals, which carried over to her decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Kevin Woods is an active member of the Memphis community and volunteer for local boards. Here’s what the Memphis market president for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee shared about his decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

“I’ve lost several close friends and family members to this virus, some of whom had been very healthy,” says Jana Keil, project manager in the BlueCross IT department. “For me, getting vaccinated was a civil responsibility, not just to our loved ones, but to our community and our nation.”

“I had an opportunity to hug my daughter. I had not done that in almost a year,” says BlueCross Vice President of Corporate Workforce Diversity Ron Harris. “If for no other reason than that, it was worth it – to be able to embrace your loved ones and have some level of comfort in doing so.”

Dr. Bertram Prosser receives a COVID_19 vaccine

As an ER doctor, Dr. Bertram Prosser was one of the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. He’s been practicing medicine for 11 years and has a background in emergency medicine and public health.

BlueCross BlueShield Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrea Willis understands the hesitancy some of her loved ones have about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. She shares what she has learned from vaccine data and explains what you need to know about these valid concerns.

As a pediatrician, Dr. Jeanne James knows firsthand the importance and impact of vaccines. Here’s what Dr. James shared about her decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine and her overall experience.