Second Vaccination Shots Administered at Beulah

By Jennifer L. Warren

POUGHKEEPSIE – For some it means being able to hug their grandchildren and great-grandchildren or just spend time with them. For another, it’s the opportunity to finally share a dinner with her sister. Then there are those, who are most excited about feeling a sense of simple relief and elusive hope for a happier, more normal future.

Regardless of the exact specific event that each of the 450 second COVID-19 shot recipients was most thrilled to experience, there was a general sense of optimism, a type of freedom that permeated throughout the Beulah Baptist Church in the City of Poughkeepsie Friday.

Here, for 12 hours (8am-8pm), staff from Westchester Medical Center’s Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, provided second vaccination doses to a steady stream of clients who had received their first round three weeks ago. The “Pop-up” vaccine site was part of a New York State initiative, aimed at getting more “needles into arms,” particularly in designated areas, leveling the accessibility playing field.

“This site in Poughkeepsie at the Church was chosen because it was an opportunity for us to ensure the vaccine’s availability for all communities within the Hudson Valley had fair access to it,” explained Elissa Chessari, Chief Operating Officer for the Northern Region of Westchester Medical Center, who also pointed out that many of the area’s clergy personnel were involved in initiating the process as well as securing the Beulah Baptist Church site. “It has been an amazing experience, and we are so grateful to be here and a part of it.”

A majority of those receiving the shot Friday were in the 65 plus category. Many expressed a genuine sense of relief at the prospect of being able to finally see family members, having a stronger immune system to ward off the virus, and a beginning of a return back to a life pre-Pandemic times.

“I’m very glad they have some type of vaccine to stop the extent of this virus,” said Joan Cook, who was getting her second shot with her husband Theodore. “I’m feeling just so relieved, and am most looking forward to a sense of security, and although it’s not 100 percent, it does give a sense that if I do get it, my immune system will be stronger, which is very important.”

Also vital to many on hand Friday was the now rapidly approaching reality of being able to see and spend quality times with loved ones.

“My grandchildren live in Westchester, so I haven’t even been able to see them because it requires traveling; now with this shot, I am looking forward to playing, cooking and going to the movies with them,” said a smiling Norma Royal of the City of Poughkeepsie. “I got this vaccine because I see it as a way of helping things get back to normal; even after this second shot I have had no side effects at all, and never once did I have any question about getting it; all I thought about was feeling healthy.”

Those vaccination doubts, many of which are still carried by the African-American and Latino communities, are ones that another second shot recipient, James Johnson of the City of Poughkeepsie understands well, as their roots run deep. However, the 68 year old, wants to send a message about how they can and should be put to rest.

“I think it’s very important that we achieve herd immunity, which is that 85% of ALL people get the shot; people need to understand this has been vetted by many scientists, many of whom are African-American involved in the companies and research,” said Johnson as he sat in the waiting room after receiving his shot. “Although I am aware of the mistrust due to the history of vaccines with African-American’s at the same time, the only way to change things is to be part of the change mechanism.”