Intensive care nurse becomes first person to be given Covid-19 vaccine in US

An intensive care nurse from New York received the first Covid-19 jab in the US - marking the beginning of the largest vaccination campaign in the country's history history.

Sandra Lindsay was given the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens just before 9.30am.

She spoke of her relief and said she hopes the tide is turning in the battle against the virus.

Ms Lindsay said: “It didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine.

“I feel hopeful today, relieved. I feel like healing is coming.

“I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history. I want to instil public confidence that the vaccine is safe.”

The event was witnessed by New York governor Andrew Cuomo on livestream as the US nears 300,000 deaths.

Moments after, as the US posted record high hospitalisations and cases over the weekend, President Donald Trump tweeted: “First Vaccine Administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!”

The frozen vaccine, which needs to be stored at minus 70C, had been shipped across the country last week in anticipation of the vaccine being approved.

This is in a bid to defeat a virus which has claimed 299,163 lives and infected 16.25 million people so far.

A huge 2.9 million doses were shipped to distribution centres across the country over the weekend, from Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Pictures emerged of workers unloading boxes of the vaccine from a plane at a UPS logistics centre in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday.

The vaccine arrives not a second too late as the US continues to post up horrifying statistics, its seven-day rolling average for new infections, hospitalisations and deaths reaching a new high over the weekend.

This comes after the US broke 3,000 deaths in a day for the first time last week.

More than 186,880 new cases were reported on Sunday as the seven-day average hit 211,494, according to the Covid Tracking Project.

Hospitalizations climbed to 109,331 with a 106,656 seven-day average.

This peak has proven far more deadly than the first wave in April, with the US seeing around 300 more fatalities every 24 hours than it did in the Spring.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine received emergency authorisation from the FDA late Friday.

All hopes are now pinned on the vaccine with the US’s inconsistent approach across states failing to halt the virus.

On Sunday, the outgoing president tweeted out to praise the initial distribution efforts.

He said: “Vaccines are shipped and on their way, FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. Get well USA. Get well WORLD. We love you all!”

This comes months after purposely downplaying the virus, according to famous presidential biographer Bob Woodward.

Later he would compare it to the flu, and call it a Democratic hoax.

After reports emerged that high-ranking White House staffers were going to receive the vaccine, Trump tweeted out again, trying to squash the rumours.

“People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary. I have asked that this adjustment be made,” Trump said.

He added: “I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time. Thank you!”

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that, by late February Americans will be able to go to their local pharmacy to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla admitted this morning that he was initially skeptical the drugmaker BioNTech could produce the vaccine at such historic speeds.

“I was hoping, I was aspiring and I was driving everything so we could do it. But deep inside me I thought it was a very stretch goal and there is a small possibility to make it but we made it”' he told CNBC's Squawk Box.

Mirror