New Yorker Receives First US COVID-19 Vaccine
'14.12.2020'
Olga Derkach
Sandra Lindsay of Northwell Health received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. She works as an intensive care nurse at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. More details about the first vaccinated were told by the publication Fox News.
She was vaccinated during a press conference by State Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday, December 14, and is likely the first person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. She told the doctor who administered the vaccine that she felt "great."
Moments after the vaccination, US President Donald Trump tweeted that the first dose of the vaccine had been administered in the US, but did not provide any details.
Lindsay told Cuomo the vaccine was “no different” from any other she received. She went on to thank her colleagues in the field who are fighting the virus around the world.
“I feel hopeful,” she said, adding that she also “felt relieved” from the vaccine. According to her, she wanted by her example to "inspire the public with confidence in the safety of the vaccine."
On the subject: New York may make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory
Northwell Health also plans to vaccinate at least two other healthcare providers on Monday, December 14th.
“In New York, we prioritize healthcare workers who need to get the vaccine because we know they are putting their lives at risk every day for the sake of others,” Cuomo said.
He added that up to 85% of the country's population will need the vaccine and it needs to be effective, but it will take months before there are enough supplies to vaccinate the general public.
“We see a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “But this is a long tunnel. And I hope everyone gets the vaccine around June. But health workers will get it first. ”
On the subject: COVID-19 vaccine: how many doses will New York get and when
The first vaccinations in New York took place just a day after workers at Pfizer's Portage, Michigan plant shipped the first of nearly 3 million doses to different regions of the country. UPS and FedEx tweeted that the delivery was successful.
The first doses were delivered to 145 distribution centers on Monday, December 14, in 50 states, with another 425 locations to receive shipments on Tuesday, December 15, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday, December 16.
The vaccines will be distributed to healthcare professionals and nursing home residents before the country moves on to the next stages of distribution.
