PHOTOS: Manhattan Seniors Get Their Shot At Hope As COVID-19 Vaccinations Hit Home

New York City NY

09 March, 2021

3:39 PM

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By Ben Fractenberg, THE CITY March 9, 2021 Maritza Cadrera put her hand on the shoulder of her 93-year-old mother, Antonia Villanueva, to comfort the resident of Wien House in Inwood while she received her second dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday. "It brings us closer to normalcy," Cadrera told THE CITY after Villanueva was vaccinated inside one of the Nagle Avenue building's community rooms. "It's a great feeling. She's been very sick the past year." After a slow start, leaders at the nonprofit worked to sign up hesitant residents for the shots. More than 80% of residents in the housing for low-income seniors and people with disabilities are now vaccinated. We captured some images showing the efforts of health care workers and staff — and the human bonds forged helping some of the city's most vulnerable residents during a tough time: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY A health aid and pharmacist held 92-year-old Holocaust survivor Klara Budnyatsky as she received her vaccine at her Wien House apartment. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Pharmacy manager Antoinette Okine prepared to administer the vaccines. The Walgreens employee was one of many health care workers helping under a program run by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Resident Bienvenido Vargas, who suffers from dementia, held onto his wife, Belgica, after the couple received their second shots. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Wien House employee Francisco Concepcion took a colleague's temperature before he received his second dose. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Resident Antonio Rosario waits to get his second shot. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY The shot went into muscle in people's upper arm. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY A Wien House resident waits for 15 minutes after getting her second coronavirus vaccine, just to make sure there are no side effects. This story was originally published on Mar 7, 2021 by THE CITY. Sign up here to get the latest stories from THE CITY delivered to you each morning. THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.