COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - The Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle administered nearly 90 Moderna vaccines to front line workers on Thursday.

Jack Reed was the first doctor to receive the vaccine at Baptist.

“Like any other shot I’ve ever had... nothing to it,” said Reed.

He is in his 45th year at the hospital. Like many other medical professionals, Reed feels honored to have received the coronavirus vaccine.

“It’s my pleasure to take this shot because I think it’s the right thing for me to do and I think it’s the right thing for our country to have this,” explained the retired Chief Medical Officer.

After receiving the vaccine, Reed and all other front line workers waited 15 minutes to monitor any symptoms experienced after injection.

Director of Pharmacy, Eli Hilton, knows that many individuals are worried about getting the vaccine, but he believes the shots are essential.

“We want everyone to develop immunity and if not, you’re going to be at risk for infection — not only yourself but to infect other people when you get it," he said. "If enough people get this vaccine, then that’ll mean we can go back to living like normal sooner.”

However, Hilton is not the only one who believes in the importance of the vaccine. 

“Without a vaccination, we’re in big trouble to try and win this battle,” said Reed.

Front line workers who received the vaccine were given a QR code allowing them to share any symptoms they are experiencing to the CDC.