Around 150 senior citizens, many of whom are Holocaust survivors, received their first dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Sunday in Lawrence.

The vaccinations took place at the Jewish Community Center. Merrick resident Rhoda Gordon received her first dose of the vaccine.

She says her positive mindset is helping her get through the pandemic, just as it helped her get through the Holocaust.

“Like everything else, everyone is given something,” Gordon says. “And you have to deal with whatever comes upon you and just to go forward.”

Meanwhile, millions of doses of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine could ship out as early as Sunday after the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency-use authorization to the vaccine Saturday.

The United States will now have three different vaccines to use against the coronavirus.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose to be fully immunized, and it can be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures.

The vaccine is also shown to be effective in South Africa, where a variant that’s believed to be more contagious is prevalent.

Doctors like Northwell Health Chief Medical Officer David Battinelli say while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a lower efficacy rate, it prevents people getting severely ill.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only a tiny bit less effective than original vaccines in terms of being able to contract the virus,” Battinelli says. “But it is equally effective in being able to make sure you don’t actually get sick from the virus and that is the critical point.”

Medical experts say the state is expected to receive around 200,000 doses from the initial shipments.

They could start arriving as early as Monday.

Those vaccinated in Lawrence Sunday received Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, which means they will have to return in three weeks to get their second dose.

They will be fully vaccinated in time for Passover.