Al Roker gets COVID-19 vaccine live on 'Today' show: 'I lucked out'

Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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Al Roker has joined the growing list of celebrities to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The "Today" show weather forecaster, 66, was live on the air when he received his Pfizer vaccination Tuesday from New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital.

During the segment, Roker explained that he qualified for the vaccine because he is over 65 years old. Roker also underwent surgery in November, just over two weeks after he announced his prostate cancer diagnosis.

"I kept hitting refresh, refresh, refresh on the browser and finally got in," he said of the New York State health website. "They put up a certain number of appointments each day and then luck of the draw, so you have to keep going in… I lucked out."

Roker also interviewed Lenox Hill's medical director Dr. Daniel Baker about the specific vaccine he was getting from Pfizer. Baker assured the vaccine, which is administered in two doses 21 days apart, is “absolutely” safe.

"The clinical trials really showed it's efficacy and we've seen hundreds and thousands of doses since and everyone’s doing really quite well," Baker said, before warning that wearing masks after vaccination is still important. "That's a key component in keeping us all safe... Mask wearing is going to be with us for some time now."

After hearing from the doctor, it was time for Roker to get his shot.

With his mask on and upper arm exposed, Roker sat ready for the vaccine, which was administered by nurse Jessica Callard.

“Will I get a Hello Kitty Band-Aid?” Roker joked to the nurse right before the injection.

From the studio, Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly cheered him on.

"Wow, nurse Jessica, what a pro!" Roker said after the shot was finished.

Roker joins a list of other famous faces to get a vaccine, including Steve Martin, Queen Elizabeth II, Judi Dench, Willie Nelson and more.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Al Roker gets COVID-19 vaccine live on 'Today' show