MINNEAPOLIS — A nurse on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center was the first in Minnesota to receive a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday.

Thera Witte, who works in a coronavirus unit at the hospital, said she feels honored to be the first and did not hesitate to volunteer.

“I’m feeling hopeful that this is the beginning of the end” of the pandemic, Witte said after receiving the first of two Pfizer doses. She will be vaccinated again in three weeks.

The state anticipates 46,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be delivered this week to Minnesota hospitals and clinics, which will start administering them next week to health care workers at greatest risk of infection.

The coronavirus has caused at least 4,462 deaths and 381,841 known infections among Minnesotans and prompted Gov. Tim Walz to shut down bars, restaurants, fitness centers and entertainment venues for four weeks to try to slow its spread. Walz is expected on Wednesday to announce whether he will extend the order or let it expire as scheduled this Friday.