LI Nurse Who Got First COVID Vaccine In US Receives Medal Of Freedom

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Sandra Lindsay — the Port Washington nurse who received the first COVID-19 vaccine in America — received the nation's highest civilian award from President Joseph Biden on Thursday.

The ICU nurse for Northwell Health was among 17 people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is awarded to those who've made individuals who have made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States" or the world, according to the White House.

This is the first time Biden had awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among those who were recognized at the White House Thursday were Olympian gymnast Simone Biles, the late Sen. John McCain, and Gold Star father and religious freedom advocate Khizr Khan.

Lindsay spoke about the ceremony with Patch's Jerry Barmash on Friday.

"This is not something I dreamed of aspiring to achieve," Lindsay, a guest on "Patch AM," said as she flashed her medal. "It was surreal. I'm still pinching myself."

Lindsay is the director of critical care at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. The Northwell nurse and Port Washington resident became the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020.

Reflecting on Thursday's surreal ceremony, Lindsay said being recognized by Biden "sheds a good spotlight on health care, the value of health care workers and the monumental part we played in this pandemic."

Watch the full "Patch AM" interview with Lindsay below: