Smithsonian acquires first US COVID-19 vaccine vials for collection

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has acquired the vials containing the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in the United States, along with related objects documenting the pandemic response. The collection includes two empty vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine used on December 14, 2020 at New York’s Northwell Health hospital, where nurse Sandra Lindsay became the first American to receive the shot. Northwell Health donated Lindsay’s vaccination record card, scrub, hospital ID badge, and the Pfizer-BioNTech vial that held the initial approved doses. Additional items include vials of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, diluent, syringes, and vaccination record cards. Museum director Anthea M. Hartig stated that these objects document unprecedented scientific progress and represent hope for millions. The Smithsonian is not alone in this effort: London’s Science Museum announced plans to build a Coronavirus-themed collection in April 2020, and the Victoria & Albert Museum launched a call in May 2020 for drawings, signs, and signage created during the pandemic.