Credit Liam Niemeyer / WKMS
The first COVID-19 vaccinations in the Purchase region of Kentucky began Thursday morning, and the first person to be vaccinated says he’s “proud” to have an additional defense against the virus.
Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital in Paducah was one of 11 initial hospitals in Kentucky to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and the hospital’s alloted 975 doses arrived Wednesday. Dr. Brad Albertson, 53, is a physician certified in pediatrics and internal medicine who serves patients at Mercy Health – Marshall Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Benton.
He was the first person to receive the vaccine and said he had no reaction to it afterward. He compared it to getting a flu shot. Albertson said having the vaccine is key in not only in preventing staffing shortages at hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, but to also protect those most vulnerable.
The death was of a 77-year-old female.
On Wednesday the health department reported 47 new cases, which followed 71 new cases reported on Tuesday.
Laurel County has 1,320 active cases of the 3,190 total cases. Thirty-one of those active cases are hospitalized and 28 are in a congregate setting.
The Whitley County Health Department reported 38 new cases on Wednesday and 59 on Tuesday, bringing the county s total cases to 1,967. The active cases is reported as 390 with nine of those hospitalized.
Whitley County has seen 19 deaths related to the virus.
Knox County Health Department reported 25 new cases on Wednesday and 34 on Tuesday. The county has 1,624 total cases with 242 of those active.