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.