Adam Nadelman was among the first first-responders to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday.
NCH Healthcare System announced on Wednesday they would begin vaccinating those pre-hospital healthcare workers like EMS and paramedics on Thursday.
As Nadelman waited for his shot, the battalion chief with the city of Naples Fire-Rescue kept thinking of Anthony “Tony” Christensen, one of the victims lost to the pandemic this year.
Christensen was a 22-year veteran of the Naples fire department who died on Aug. 4 after contracting COVID-19.
“I just kept on thinking to myself, you know, I wish this was available for him and that he was here getting the shot,” Nadelman said.
Nadelman said he’s heard a lot of people say the virus is not a big deal.
But that’s not always the case, he said.
“That didn’t help Tony,” Nadelman said.
Christensen, 55, died more than a month after contracting COVID-19 while on the job.
Nadelman said he hopes getting the vaccine publicly will help others realize it is safe and encourages them to get vaccinated.