Sandra Lindsay, ICU nurse and director for critical care at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, was the first person in the country to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and has now received her second dose.

“If I don’t touch arm, I don’t remember that I’ve gotten a vaccine there,” she told NY1 in an exclusive interview.

Lindsay said she understands people may be vaccine-hesitant and urges them to get informed. She said it is a duty to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

“People have legitimate fears based on what happened in the past. We don’t want to dismiss those fears, but I encourage you to review the science, review the data. Speak to your health care providers, speak to experts in the field to help you to make that decision,” said Lindsay.

“Use me and several other health care workers who have come forward to share their experiences as examples that the vaccine is safe. Also, what we’re doing is a civic responsibility or professional responsibility to put an end to this pandemic once and for all,” she continued.

At Northwell Health, over 26,000 employees have been vaccinated, which is more than a third of its workforce.

Lindsay said she is noticing hospital capacity creep up again and is hoping it doesn’t near what it was at the peak of the pandemic.

“We are prepared to deal with whatever comes our way,” she said. “We’re preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.”