"The last eight months have been some of the hardest," she said.
Sanchez said the vaccine makes her feel more secure as she continues to help patients.
TonyChris Nnaka, also a nurse in the COVID unit, thought about his patients as he received the vaccine.
"I'm just very privileged to be one of the first to receive it here at Parkland. It's an emotional moment to me," he said, "I'm thinking of my patients that were not able to get the vaccine."
Samantha Rowley, Senior Vice President of Surgical Services, described her days at the hospital during the pandemic: "Exhausting. Scary. Something we care to never do again."