“I’m actually excited! I’m glad to get the vaccine," she said, "I wanted to get it because I wanted to be able to tell my patients that I did get the vaccine.” Dr. Chona Reguyal, a primary care provider, received the first Covid-19 vaccination in the region just before 11 a.m. Tuesday. "This is truly the light at the end of the tunnel and we're very very excited and very very proud" to be the first medical facility to administer the shots, Dr. David Ellis, Pardee's chief medical officer, told the media. Pardee Hospital identified the first 584 employees who will be able to get the first Covid-19 vaccinations in Western North Carolina after prioritizing doctors, nurses and housekeeping personnel who are most likely to be exposed to the virus.