Later, the management of the University Medical Center in El Paso admitted that one of the nurses had not been fully vaccinated and that he had to "get another shot of the vaccine to build confidence" in the vaccination process.
The hospital was accused of staging the process of administering the coronavirus vaccine live after eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the syringe plunger did not move.
On Tuesday, December 15, representatives from two local television stations were invited to the University Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, to film the vaccination of five hospital staff with Pfizer's vaccine.
The footage, which quickly spread on social media, shows nurse Ricardo Martinez being allegedly injected with the vaccine.
However, viewers noticed that during the injection, the syringe plunger was already pushed all the way down.
The staff member who injected had to first extend the plunger a little before he pressed it again with his finger.
One viewer wrote: “Surely this syringe was EMPTY and the plunger was already pushed all the way down. And where is the adhesive plaster? Yeah, great try! You will not deceive us."
Another wrote: “The syringe is empty - this guy did not press the syringe plunger at all. Poorly played."
“He didn’t inject anything with a syringe,” added a third spectator. "He just touched the piston with his finger."
During a press conference after the injection, Ricardo said: "I am honored to be one of the first to receive this vaccine."
"I feel a little relieved that we will finally get some kind of help, that we will have vaccines."
"Hopefully this helps because we all had to work very hard."
Later, a representative of the University Medical Center in El Paso admitted that one of the staff at the center did not receive the full vaccine and that he would definitely get a second shot of the vaccine to allay any doubts.
The center said in a statement: “Since there have been many reports on social media that one in five nurses vaccinated on Tuesday did not receive the full dose of the vaccine, we would like to dispel doubts that he was not fully vaccinated, and build confidence in the vaccination process."