Northwell Health kicks off vaccinations of healthcare workers

Northwell Health took a major step toward the end of the COVID-19 pandemic this week, as they began vaccinating its healthcare professionals.

Sandra Lindsay, an intensive care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, was the first to receive the Pfizer vaccine, in an event covered by media outlets worldwide. 

Northwell began a three-stage rollout to essential frontline hospital personnel on Monday. Physicians, nurses and any staff member working in direct contact with COVID-19 patients will also soon receive the first of the two-dose regimen.

“Today is V-Day in our fight against COVID-19,” Michael Dowling, Northwell president and CEO, said in a written statement. “This truly is a historic day for science and humanity, one in which we here in New York and across the United States have been waiting for quite some time.”

Northwell received a limited supply of a few thousands doses of Pfizer’s vaccine to be spread among eight hospitals. The vaccine protocol requires two injections 21 days apart.