Al Roker receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.Photo: Today Show Twitter
Al Rokerhas received his first dose of thePfizer coronavirus vaccine.
On Tuesday, theTodayco-host joined the morning show from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City where he explained how he registered for the vaccine and spoke to Hospital Medical Director Dr. Daniel Baker before getting the shot in his left arm.
Roker, 66, shared that he qualified to get the vaccine as he is over 65 years old, which allowed him to sign up for an appointment on the New York state health website over the weekend.
However, theTodayco-host —who underwent afive-hour surgeryto remove his prostate and several lymph-nodes after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November — noted that it was not so easy to secure a spot and had to “hit refresh on the browser” all weekend long until given a slot at Lenox Hill.
While preparing to get the shot for theTodaysegment, Roker asked Baker about the safety of the vaccine.
Baker also noted the importance of wearing a mask even after receiving the vaccine.
“It is a key component of keeping us all safe,” he said.
Roker then sat down next to one of the nurses as he prepared to receive the shot in his left deltoid muscle.
“Will I get a Hello Kitty Band-Aid?” he teased.
Roker proceeded to receive the shot, which took less than five seconds and called the nurse “a pro” as she put a “generic Band-Aid” on his arm. The nurse also told Roker that she was feeling “good” after getting the shot for herself.
TheTodayco-host joins a list of celebrities over the age of 65 who have gotten the vaccine, includingSteve Martin,Judi DenchandMartha Stewart.
In a series of tweets posted Sunday, Martin jokingly shared the “good news” and “bad news” about getting the vaccine, writing, “Ijust got vaccinated! Bad news: I got it because I’m 75. Ha!”
In a recent interview with BBC News, Dench, 86 said thatshe has had one dose of the vaccineand will get the booster dose in several weeks.
On Jan. 11, Stewart, 79,shared a videoofherself getting the vaccineat the Martha Stewart Center for Living in New York City, assuring the public that she “waited in line with the others” and did not “[jump] the line.”
Currently, health-care workers, nursing-home residents, teachers, school staff, first responders, public-transit workers, public-safety workers and people over 65 are eligible for the vaccine in New York City. But even for those groups, getting an appointment has beendifficult due to demandand issues with the website.
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source: people.com
