Bedford WWII Vet First VA Patient To Get Coronavirus Vaccine

BEDFORD, MA — Across the country Monday, people rolled up their sleeves to receive the first doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine.

While most of the vaccine recipients were frontline workers, older veterans in Veterans Affairs facilities also made the list. At Bedford's VA center Monday, World War II veteran Margaret Klessens, 96, was the first VA patient nationwide to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We are very excited to provide a vaccine that has the potential to help get COVID-19 under control when used alongside public health measures such as masking, physical distancing, and frequent handwashing,” VA Bedford Chief of Staff Dr. Shilpa Rungta said.

The VA Bedford Healthcare System was one of 37 VA sites throughout the country to receive the vaccine. Veterans in long-term care facilities will be the first patient group to be vaccinated. As vaccine supplies increase, the VA said additional veterans will receive vaccinations based on age, existing health problems and other considerations that increase the risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19.

A total of 300,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna are expected to be distributed by the end of the year and over 2 million doses by the end of March. The vaccines need to be administered twice about three to four weeks apart.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes and VA facilities were hit extremely hard. Places like the Holyoke Soldier Home was the site of an outbreak that killed 76 veterans.