LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) -- This Tuesday brings a lot of firsts for one local lawmaker. State Representative Chris Campbell of District 26 is now one of the state's first government leaders to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. She's also one of the first people to receive the Moderna brand.

She now joins hundreds of health care workers in getting vaccinated against Covid-19. While she serves the people of District 26 in West Lafayette as a state representative, she also works as a state-licensed audiologist.

"I am a health care professional," said Campbell. "My employer did contact its employees and informed us that we were in the first line of people to get the vaccine."

Campbell's vaccination appointment happened to fall on the first day IU Health Arnett Hospital is administering the Moderna vaccine.
The hospital gave out the Pfizer vaccine during its first round of vaccinations for health care workers earlier this month.

"I'm one of the first people in the state to get the Moderna vaccine, which was just approved last week so I feel very much like a Guinea pig but I feel that it's worth it," said Campbell. "I'm very concerned about the virus, I've tried to stay safe all year and I'm really looking forward to this starting to end so that we can start to get back to a normal life where we're not having to wear these masks."

Campbell is hopeful for what the Covid-19 vaccine could do for the community once it becomes widely available.

"I really want to feel like we're starting to move towards a normal life again. Where we can be with family and friends and be in our community and go out to dinner and I feel like this is one step towards that," said Campbell.

Right now, only health-care workers and nursing home staff are eligible for the vaccine in Indiana. Campbell is scheduled to get her second vaccination the last week of January.