Sandra Lindsay saw the coronavirus at its most destructive. For months, she worked on the frontlines of the pandemic in one of the worst-affected boroughs, in the worst-affected city, in the worst-affected country in the world.
Today, the critical care nurse became the first American to receive a vaccine as the US began its ambitious mass vaccination campaign, a moment that many hope will mark a crucial turning point in the pandemic.
“I’ve been waiting for this day, not only for myself, but to show people that it’s safe and believe in the science,” Ms Lindsay said after receiving the vaccine at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens shortly after 9am.
The room broke out into applause as a doctor administered the vaccine, the first time anyone has received it outside of a trial setting.
