Oregon Health & Science University administered its first COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, when cardiovascular intensive care nurse Ansu Drammeh, R.N., B.S.N., received an injection of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine from dental resident Ryan Thrower, D.M.D. Thrower is the first dental resident in the U.S. to give a COVID vaccine, thanks to the 2019 passage of Oregon House Bill 2220, which made Oregon the first state to enable dentists to prescribe and give any vaccine to their patients, regardless of their age. OHSU Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Joe Ness, M.H.A., R.Ph., (left) applauded the historic moment. (OHSU/Fritz Liedtke)
