Watch: New York nurse receives 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.
“I feel hopeful today.”
A New York critical care nurse received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States to cheers and applause as the largest vaccination effort in the nation’s history kicked off Monday morning.
Related Links
-
VACCINE TIMELINE
What to expect from the 3-phase COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Massachusetts
-
VACCINE FAQ
Experts answer 10 common COVID-19 vaccine questions from Boston.com readers
-
NEW REGULATIONS
What to know now that Mass. has officially rolled back to Phase 3, Step 1 in the statewide reopening plan
“I’m ready, let’s do this,” Sandra Lindsay said just before getting the injection at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York.
The critical care nurse said the shot “didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo watched the moment via live stream and asked the nurse how she was feeling afterwards.
Lindsay said she was feeling well and expressed gratitude for all the front line workers who have been fighting the pandemic around the world.
“I feel hopeful today,” the nurse said. “Relieved. I hope this marks the end of a very painful time in our history. I want to instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe. We are in a pandemic and so we all need to do our parts to put an end to the pandemic and to not give up so soon.”
There is light at the end of the tunnel in the battle against COVID-19, she said, but everyone still needs to remain on guard against the virus.
“We still need to continue to wear our masks, to social distance,” Lindsay said. “I believe in science. As a nurse, my practice is guided by science, and so I trust science. What I don’t trust is that if I contract COVID, I don’t know how it will impact me or those who I come into contact with. So I encourage everyone to take the vaccine.”
BREAKING: Critical care nurse in New York is among first in US to receive a coronavirus vaccine: “We all need to do our parts to put an end to the pandemic.” pic.twitter.com/I8SIFuddFv
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 14, 2020
On Sunday, shipments of almost 3 million doses of the vaccine began shipping around the country.
Hospitals in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island received their first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine on Monday, which was approved Friday by the Food and Drug Administration.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com