Sandra Lindsay, First Person in U.S. to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Jo-Carolyn Goode | 12/15/2020, 9:55 a.m.
Sandra Lindsay
When Sandra Lindsay volunteered to be vaccinated for COVID-19 she had one goal in mind – to lead by example. Lindsay, Director of Critical Nursing at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, had heard all the skepticism of others leery about taking the vaccine. She also was well aware of the history of unjust, racist treatment of African Americans with medical experimentation.
"It was important for me," Lindsay said in a previous interview, "and especially to send a message to the minority community - Hispanics, Latinos, Blacks - who are usually grossly affected but still have mistrust based on history."
Her actions are inspiring and encouraging to others, even reaching to her homeland of Jamaica. Hopefully, the spirit will also spread to the U.S. among minorities.
Lindsay’s job had her working on the floor in the hospital with COVID-19 patients. She saw the suffering, pain and death up close of patients. In addition, the grief of death brushed her own doorstep when her uncle and aunt died from COVID-19.
The 52-year-old received the Pfizer vaccine on December 14th shortly after 9:20 a.m. administered by Dr. Michelle Chester, the corporate director of employee health services at Northwell Health. Lindsay reported that she didn’t feel any different after receiving the vaccine.
