Gov. Ricketts receives his first COVID-19 vaccine dose

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) -Governor Pete Ricketts received his first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday in Omaha.

Ricketts was administered the shot at a Nebraska Medicine testing and vaccination clinic. He signed up for the vaccine online and was notified earlier this week of his eligibility to schedule an appointment. Ricketts said he signed up online because he wanted to see first-hand how effective the state’s vaccine system is for citizens.

“I just wanted to be a consumer and see how the system worked, and it worked great,” Ricketts said.

While the experience was easy for the governor and first lady, he says the state is working to bring vaccines to areas like Douglas County where people have been waiting for their turn.

“As a state we are reallocating from areas of lower demand to areas of higher demand like in our urban areas,” Ricketts said.

Ricketts is hoping to see a lot more Nebraskans signing up for the vaccine.

“Especially with the new variants out there,” Ricketts said. “We want people to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

The 56-year-old says he trusts in the effectiveness of each of the COVID-19 vaccines, and says this is the light at the end of the tunnel we have been waiting for.

“I got a few more weeks to get the second dose and get fully vaccinated,” Ricketts said. “But at the end of the day, this is how we end the pandemic.”