Sandra Lindsay, an African American nurse from Long Island steps up to be the first nurse to take the Pfizer Coronavirus vaccine.
She sat down with CNN to tell her story.
Sandra mentioned at the beginning of the report. One of the first people in the US to receive the Pfizer vaccine and possibly the first was Sandra Lindsay.
She’s seen firsthand what coronavirus could do to those who are critically ill. She works at Long Island Jewish Medical Center here in New York. Remember, Please, that she joins me now. Sandra, thanks so much for joining us. I know it’s been a long day for you, although I’m sure you used to a lot of long days in your life saving work.
Anderson: First of all, you have the vaccine this morning. How are you feeling? Does it? First of all does feel how did feel be part of history and also physically. Are you feeling anything from the vaccine?
Sandra: Anderson? First of all, thanks for having me on and for giving me this platform to share my experience. I feel great. It doesn’t feel any different than the influence of vaccine. I take annually on that I took two months ago.
Anderson: So how did you get to be the first in the in the US to receive the vaccine or one of the first at least, did you? I assume you volunteered for this.
Sandra: So I volunteered. And I have been speaking openly that, um whenever this vaccine, um, is approved to be given, um, that I would be among the first when my when my turn. Um, you know, came up that I would take the vaccine. I have no fair.
I trust the science. My profession is deeply rooted in science. I trust Stein’s. What I don’t trust is getting covert 19 because I don’t know how it will affect me and the people around me that I could potentially transfer transfer the virus to.
Anderson: So today, the surgeon general addressed vaccine hesitancy and noted the distrust among people of color and others, uh, saying that the distrust is not without good reason, referring to the Tuskegee studies in the 19 thirties. Horrific experiments that were done on black men people, people coming were also been disproportionately affected by the virus. Were these things on your mind when you volunteered to receive the vaccine?
Sandra: So um, I understand the mistrust among the minority community s Oh, yes, it was on my mind, but mostly I wanted to I want to be a part of the solution to put an end to this pandemic once and for all.
As you mentioned in your introduction, I have seen tremendous lost pain suffering, um, fair in the eyes, off my colleagues every day that we come to work courageously to save lives on.
But I just think also as a leader in the organization that I lead by example, I don’t ask people to do anything that I would not do myself. And so I was happy to volunteer to be among the first. I did not know that, um, I would make history, and that’s not why I did it.
I wanted to do it to inspire people who may be skeptical about taking the vaccine and trust in the science. I think about you and and so many of the those who are who are in the trenches who are on the frontline, seeing death day in and day out and saving lives.
Anderson: Um when you go outside the hospital on your way home and you see people not wearing masks or not social distancing hanging out in a bar, you know, thinking that they’re young, it’s not. It doesn’t really matter. They’re not going to get sick. What is your message to people who may now think OK, well, there’s a vaccine now, so the mask wearing it’s not as important. Coronavirus Vaccine
Sandra: So it’s it’s just this important now. Um, we are not out of the woods yet. The light is brighter tonight, Um, in the tunnel, we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Um, but this is certainly not over. So I will say, I would say to people, um that the cove in 19 virus is real.
I have witnessed it firsthand. We’re still witness in it. So I urge you, please to listen to the experts where your mass let science be. Your guide practice social distance in.
Also to remember, the vaccine is no good in a freezer. It is better, more effective, of course, when it goes into your body and starts interacting with your immune system. So please listen to the science.
It is really continue to wear your mass social distance. And if you can put off your celebrations, please put off your celebrations. Do them.
Virtually. People have been coming up with all sorts of creative ways, tow back with family. And so do that this year so that we can be together next year in person. Coronavirus vaccine
Anderson: Well, Sandra Lindsey, I appreciate you talking tonight, but also what you and you do is a nurse and everybody in the medical field what they are doing. Thank you so much.
Sandra: I appreciate it. Thank you, Anderson. A tremendous thanks to my team members and frontline workers and essential workers all across the work for fighting the good fight. Thank you.
Coronavirus vaccine
