COVID-19: The First Vaccine

This morning, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo watched virtually as Dr. Chester administered the vaccine to Ms. Lindsay, a front-line health care worker eligible to receive the vaccine under Phase 1 of New York's Vaccine Distribution Plan. 

The director of critical care at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJ) in Queens has become the first person in the United States to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in a non-trial setting.

Sandra Lindsay, RN, received the vaccine as Gov. Andrew Cuomo looked on from Albany via livestream.  "This is the weapon that will end the war.  It's the beginning of the last chapter of the book.  Now we just have to do it."  Gov Cuomo said this morning as the first vaccine was giving out.  "We trust science here in New York. The federal government approved the vaccine. We then had a separate panel that also approved the vaccine and we've been following the science all along. I hope this gives you, and the healthcare workers who are battling this every day, a sense of security and safety and a little more confidence in doing your job once the second vaccine has been administered. In New York we prioritized healthcare workers at the top of the list to receive the vaccine, because we know that you are out there every day putting your lives in danger for the rest of us, so we want to make sure we're doing everything we can to keep you safe. And the point about New Yorkers and Americans having to do their part and take the vaccine, because the vaccine only works if the American people take it.

Sandra Lindsay, ICU Nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens Receives First Vaccine in Nation.

"Governor Cuomo, I'm feeling well. I would like to thank all the frontline workers, all my colleagues, who've been doing a yeoman's job throughout this this pandemic all over the world. I am hopeful. I feel I hope today, relieved. I feel like healing is coming and this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history. I want to instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe. We're in a pandemic and so we all need to do your part to put an end to the pandemic, and to not give up so soon. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we still need to continue to wear our masks, to social distance. I believe in science. As a nurse, my practice is guided by science and so I trust that. What I don't trust is that, if I contract COVID, I don't know how it would impact or those who I come in contact with, so I encourage everyone to take the vaccine."

She's been on the frontlines, how fitting that she was the first to get the vaccine, administered by Dr. Michelle Chester," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. He also called it, "a beautiful moment."

Find out more about NY's plan to distribute the vaccine.

After receiving the vaccine and a round of applause, Lindsay spoke out about receiving the shot.

"I'm feeling well. I would like to thank all the frontline workers, all my colleagues who've been all over the world. I hopeful, I feel hopeful today. Relieved. I feel like healing is coming. I hope this marks the beginning or the end of a very painful time in our history," she said. "I want to instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe. We're in a pandemic. And so we all need to do our part to put an end to the pandemic. And to not give up so soon, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but we still need to continue to wear our masks, to social distance. I believe in science, as a nurse, my practice is guided by science. And so I trust that. What I don't trust is that if I contract COVID, I don't know how it's going to affect me or those I come in contact with. So, I encourage everyone to take the vaccine."
Frontline staff at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan is also set to receive the vaccine starting at 2 p.m.

The vaccine is now arriving at 44 New York Hospital, including LIJ and Lenox Hill, with access to special ultra cold freezers.

The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -80 degrees Celsius, and once thawed it must be used within a few hours. It cannot be refrozen.

"We can store millions of vaccines in the freezers that we have. We were prepared for this," a hospital spokesperson said.

Governor Cuomo has announced hospital workers deemed high risk are the first in line to receive the vaccine, followed by nursing home workers and residents next week.

Essential workers who interact with the public, like teachers and firefighters, are next.

The general public may not see the vaccine until February.