Local veteran in hospital recovering from COVID and MRSA, encourages vaccine

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A local veteran, who spends much of his time helping other veterans, was hospitalized and tested positive for COVID-19 after having been vaccinated.

Michael Bessette has been in the hospital for over two weeks now after his toes became discolored, a fever spiked and he became very restless.

After testing positive for COVID, Bessette learned he also had MRSA and had a cyst forming on his spine.

Now cleared of COVID, he remains in the hospital awaiting surgery on his cyst.

Bessette participated in the trials for the Pfizer vaccine, is fully vaccinated and believes his symptoms would have been much worse had he not been.

Bessette never had any breathing problems necessitating a ventilator.

He encourages the public to get vaccinated and wear a mask to minimize the spread of the virus.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat thing. Everybody wants to say they are getting their inalienable rights taken from them by having to wear masks or get vaccinated or practice social distancing, and nobody is trying to take away your rights. We’re trying to take care of a public health problem,” said Bessette.

Bessette was planning to participate in a COVID booster shot study in Nashville but he is unsure if he will still be eligible following his positive test.