Queens nurse gets the first vaccine shot

  

The Independent

 New York City has vaccinated the first person in the United States to publicly receive the vaccine, with a nurse receiving her injection in a live-streamed process.

Sandra Lindsay, a critical care director, was given the injection in Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Queens, to applause from those watching. 

Queens was the hardest-hit borough of the hardest-hit city in the nation; the medical center where Ms Lindsay works has seen well over 100,000 Covid patients, and in April they had over 3,500 patients in their hospitals.

Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, described it as “the final chapter”.

“But a vaccine doesn’t work if it’s in the vial,” he said.

“I hope this gives you and your colleagues a little more of a sense of safety and confidence, when you get the second shot.”

Ms Lindsey said that the injection felt the same as any other.

“I’m feeling well. I would like to thank all the frontline workers, all my colleagues, who have been doing a yeoman’s job to fight this pandemic all over the world,” she said.

"I feel hopeful today. I am 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 instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe. We are in a pandemic so we all need to do our part to put an end to the pandemic and not give up so soon.

Woodside visa fraudster cuffed

From Sunnyside Post:

A Woodside woman has been charged with visa fraud for filing false documents to get Filipino nationals work visas, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Rena Beduya Avendula, 50, who owned Woodside-based Professional Place & Recruitment Inc. (PPRI), would submit fraudulent documents claiming that her clients would be employed in “specialty occupations,” therefore qualifying for H-1B work visas, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Avendula is charged with five counts of visa fraud and with conspiring to defraud the U.S. by bringing in undocumented immigrants. The scheme allegedly took place from October 2009 through February 2015.

Nurse dumped elderly patient on the floor

'Wheelchair assault' rap
By WILLIAM J. GORTA and JESSICA SIMEONE, NY Post

A Queens nurse dumped an elderly patient out of a wheelchair and left the woman writhing on the floor with a broken hip, authorities said yesterday.

Jessie Joiner, 56, also swiped two dozen painkillers the same night she knocked Jane Bills to the floor, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said.

Officials at the William O. Benenson Rehabilitation Center in Flushing reported Joiner to the state after reviewing video of the March 20 incident captured via a hallway surveillance camera, Cuomo said.

"We expect nursing homes to be staffed with professionals who will provide dependable and compassionate care for our loved ones," Cuomo said.

A hospital spokesman said the 302-bed Benenson Center enjoys a sterling reputation -- including a four-star government rating -- and called Joiner's alleged actions unacceptable.

Outside court after her arraignment yesterday, Joiner, who lives in Jamaica, wailed "I didn't do it! I didn't do it!"

She faces up to seven years in prison.

Nurse kicks tweeders' asses in Courier poll

From the Queens Courier:

More than 3,000 readers cast their vote online for The Courier Person of the Year, and St. Francis Preparatory School nurse Mary Pappas emerged as the winner, receiving nearly 67 percent of the votes cast.

Pappas was thrust into the national and even international spotlight last April when she spotted what turned out to be the first swine flu, or H1N1, case in New York at the Fresh Meadows school.

Pappas beat out Jorge Munoz, a CNN Heroes Award finalist who cooks and brings meals to day laborers in Jackson Height; Rachel Guzy, the quick-thinking hero camp counselor who saved kids when a bus went spiraling out of control; Michael Bloomberg, who won a third term as Mayor of New York City; and John Liu, the first Asian-American elected to citywide office as City Comptroller.

D'OH!!!!

From the NY Post:

Monserrate's lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, had said during opening arguments in Queens Supreme Court that Giraldo spoke "Spanglish" -- a mix of English and Spanish -- and that she had been misunderstood by the hospital staff.

But [Dr.] Korte said her father was from Panama and mother hailed from Puerto Rico, and as a result grew up speaking Spanish at home with her grandparents. She also said she studied in Spain.

Korte said she understood Giraldo, who is originally from Ecuador, and that the conversation was in both Spanish and English.

Korte said Giraldo reenacted the fight, saying Monserrate was "thrusting the glass forward -- angrily" when he attacked her.

"She was upset ... She was sobbing," said Korte of Giraldo.

Korte said Giraldo told her, "No! No! You can't call the police."