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BREAKING:

HONDA TO SET UP $15B EV PRODUCTION BASE IN CANADA

Automaker to get up to $5B in government assistance for EV battery, assembly plants

Dan Rather, 89, Receives COVID Vaccine as He Remembers the 'Godsend of the Polio Shot'

Natalie Stone
·2 min read

Dan Rather/Twitter

Dan Rather is commemorating a monumental day.

The former CBS Evening News anchor, 89, received the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, tweeting a photo of himself sitting next to the nurse who administered the shot.

"I got the vaccine today. Thank you science. Thank you to all who have been working on the front lines," he wrote.

The event brought back a flood of emotions for the legendary journalist, who recalled when the polio vaccination was rolled out.

"I still remember the godsend of the polio shot, a flashback of emotion sweeps through me again," Rather said of the highly contagious disease, which was eventually eradicated after Dr. Jonas Salk developed a vaccine in 1955. (By 1962, the average number of polio cases dropped significantly and the United States has been polio-free since 1979, according to the CDC.)

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RELATED: How Long Does It Take to Become Immune After You Get the COVID Vaccine? Here's What to Know

Rick Kern/WireImage

Vaccine eligibility varies widely by state, but most began by inoculating health care workers and nursing home residents, and are now prioritizing elderly adults and frontline workers.

The Today show's Al Roker also received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday. Joining the morning show from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, Roker, 66, called the nurse "a pro" after the quick shot.

Today Show Twitter Al Roker receiving the COVID-19 vaccine

Rather and Roker join a growing list of celebrities over the age of 65 who have gotten the vaccine, including Steve Martin, Judi Dench and Martha Stewart.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from the WHO and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here.