Even though hospitals are becoming increasingly overwhelmed due to the rising number of COVID-19 patients to care for, staff members at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City say the news that vaccinations soon will be available gives them hope. Dr. Karthik Iyer, Mercy Jefferson chief medical officer and intensive care unit medical director, said the vaccines are a welcome development in the fight to control the virus. âI feel the morale is better than what we would have seen a couple of months ago, and I think the news about the vac cine has a lot to do with it,â he said.