Vaccinations begin in Alabama as COVID-19 cases soar
December 15, 2020 GMT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Health care workers and a few others began receiving the first vaccinations against the new coronavirus in Alabama on Tuesday as cases of the illness caused by the virus soared.
Two physicians at Southeast Health in Dothan were the first in the state to receive the vaccine, the Alabama Department of Public Health said. Cullman Regional Medical Center said a longtime nurse, Donna Snow, had received an initial dose of the two-step vaccine a day after the hospital, located north of Birmingham, received its first shipment.
“I’m hopeful that more people are able to take the vaccine so we can begin to see a decline in the number of critically ill patients and families impacted by this disease,” Snow, who works in critical care, said in a statement released by the hospital.
World War II veteran receives first COVID-19 vaccine in Birmingham
Updated Dec 21, 2020;
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A 94-year-old World War II veteran and prisoner of war received the first COVID-19 vaccine in Birmingham on Tuesday at the VA Medical Center.
Lee Elm Creel of Snowtown rolled up his sleeve to make history as one of the first in the state to receive a vaccine developed by Pfizer that received emergency use authorization on Friday. Hospitals across the state began administering vaccines Tuesday, but the VA was the first in Birmingham to start giving shots.
“It felt about like a flu shot,” said Creel, who waited in the VA for 15 minutes after he received his vaccine so health care workers could watch for reactions. “I feel fine.”