The University of Iowa hospital employees have started receiving the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine.

U-I Hospitals and Clinics C-E-O Suresh Gunasekaran (says the vaccine is important — but added the caution that the pandemic shouldn’t be taken any less seriously just because vaccines are becoming available. However, he adds there is more hope as people wait for the vaccine.

The first round of vaccinations are going to frontline health care workers and the state’s nursing home staff and residents will be next.