Astronaut Aldrin gets vaccine ahead of birthday
Apollo 11 astronaut and second man on the moon Buzz Aldrin turned 91 years on Wednesday just days after getting his first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.
He posted to Twitter earlier in the week images of him rolling up his sleeves while receiving his first shot of the vaccine.
“I want to thank all the scientists, healthcare workers, and government officials who worked tirelessly to develop and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine in record time and safely, to the world,” reads the post. “I urge everyone to sign up for a vaccination as soon as possible when eligible to do, so that life can return to normal soon.”
Aldrin is one of four moon walkers still alive from the 12 who stepped foot on the lunar surface during the Apollo program. At 91, he’s also the oldest ahead of Apollo 15 s David Scott, 88, Apollo 16 s Charlie Duke, 85, and Apollo 17 s Harrison Schmitt, also 85.
Aldrin is a resident of Satellite Beach in Brevard County and a faculty member of the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. The county is one of 18 in the state that just began offering vaccines to those 65 and older at its Publix locations, although Aldrin didn’t get his there. Shots for the first appointments at those Publix pharmacies began on Thursday, although all appointments are booked up through Friday. The store’s portal to sign up for future appointments will open again on Friday morning.
Aldrin got the shot on Monday, then celebrated two days later his 91st trip around the sun.
He posted images to Twitter sporting an Apollo 11 T-Shirt, American flag socks and what looked to be a birthday cake, featuring gray frosting and the imprint of a boot like a footprint on the moon.