An emergency room nurse was the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at Brooks-TLC Hospital.

The Dunkirk facility received its shipment of the vaccines on Tuesday.

Sara Couchman was the first to receive a dose, reported by Brooks officials on Wednesday. “I’m happy this is the beginning of a new era, and also the end of pain and suffering for so many families,” she said.

Lisa Barone, director of infection control and surgical services, administered the first vaccination. “This is the first ray of hope we’ve seen in a long time,” Barone said. Christopher Kotowski, the hospital’s director of pharmacy, and a team of hospital representatives, have been preparing for the arrival of vaccines and ensuring that the regulations related to allocation and administration of the vaccine are followed. Brooks-TLC is a participant in the State’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program and is adhering to confidentiality requirements as they pertain to vaccine quantities, storage and administration.