Critical Care Nurse Receives First COVID Vaccine Live on TV, Online

By Yehudit Garmaise 

  As the U.S. launches its massive rollout of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine today, this morning at 9:10am, Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a press briefing, as Dr. Michelle Chester, the Norwell director of employee health services, provided the first coronavirus vaccine to Sandra Lindsay, RN, a critical care nurse at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, who spent the last 10 months working the front lines as COVID-19 ripped through New York City. Lindsay was possibly the first to receive the coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. 

   While receiving the shot, Lindsay told Dr. Chester that she was feeling "great." After receiving the vaccine, Lindsay told the governor that the shot "didn't feel any different," from any other vaccine. 

   According to federal guidelines, frontline healthcare workers, along with nursing home patients and staffs will be the first to be vaccinated.

  “I hope this gives you and the healthcare workers who are battling this everyday a sense of security and safety and a little more confidence in doing your job, once the second [dose] of the vaccine has been administered,” Gov. Cuomo said to Lindsay.

    Gov. Cuomo then reminded views that New Yorkers and Americans “have to do their part and take the vaccine because the vaccine only works if the American people take it,” said the governor, who reminded viewers that 75% to 85% of Americans to take the vaccine for it to be effective.

    “It is going to take months before the vaccine hits critical mass, so this is the light at the end of the tunnel, but it is a long tunnel,” said the governor, who reminded people to continue “to do the right thing and the smart thing all through the holiday season.”

   “Hopefully, when we get to about June, the vaccine can hit critical mass,” Gov. Cuomo said.

(Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)