MARK LENNIHAN
NY Nurse First in the US to Receive Pfizer Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine administration is underway in the United States. Sandra Lindsay, an ICU Nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York, became the first American to get vaccinated in a non-trial setting.
After an expedited approval process by the FDA, Pfizer/BioNTech was able to begin distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend. Distribution to 145 sites occurred on Monday, with 425 more receiving their first allotment on Tuesday and 66 additional sites on Wednesday. A cadence for distribution still needs to be determined from Pfizer/BioNtech globally.
On Monday morning, in a press conference with Governor Andrew Cuomo, the first vaccine of many was administered live.
Last week, the UK became the first nation to begin their vaccination protocol via the National Health Service. Canada announced that it was not far behind the UK and US and will likely start their plans imminently.
As the death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 300,000 in the US, this vaccine is a big relief for healthcare workers that have been facing innumerable loss. As mask wearing and social distancing remain crucial in the fight against COVID-related deaths, high-risk individuals and healthcare workers will be the first to receive the vaccine.
