Getting Vaccinated
Portraits from the Northampton COVID-19 Clinic
Photographing the Covid-19 Vaccine
In May of 2021, Paul Shoul photographed people just after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and the volunteers and health professionals working at the Hampshire County Regional Vaccine Clinic located at the Northampton Senior Center: a collaboration between the Northampton Health Department, the Northampton Fire Rescue Department, the Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition, and the Hampshire County Medical Reserve Corps. It is a massive logistical undertaking that has provided over 27,000 vaccinations so far.
Paul Shoul reflects, “In their words and faces, we see hope and a commitment to the community. To help and be helped for the good of us all.”
The color of the volunteers’ vests indicate their role in the process:
- Green = registration
- Yellow = schedulers (second dose appointments)
- Pink = Operations Leads (non medical)
- Red = Medical Leads (medical staff, vaccine questions and medical emergencies)
- Blue = Medical staff and volunteers (vaccinators, post-vaccination observers, documentation)
- White = Non-medical scribes (documentation)
- Turquoise = Room assistant (manages flow, brings people to their rooms)
Lynne Yamamoto
“Relief!!!!!”
Katharine Draper
“I’m just thrilled to get the vaccine and want to thank everyone involved in its development!”
Malissa Hrasna
“Different. It has changed the world but it is Heavily Needed.”
Mataya B.
“I’m glad to get the vaccine so I won’t get coronavirus.”
Morgan B-M
“My thoughts are scrambled and lost and not clear and I simply can’t wait for all of this to be over.”
Sasha G. & Rowan R-W
“Covid bad, vaccine good.” – Sasha “COVID is stinky and getting a vaccine makes you sexy.” – Rowan
Kathy Service
“It has been a great effort and truly community minded! As a volunteer I feel so valued and so welcomed warmly by the staff of the Public Health Department and EMTs fire etc. Also there is an incredible reciprocity or mirroring of good cheer and gratitude. I’m so proud to be a part of this!”
Kate Kelly
“Being part of the vaccine effort & response to the pandemic is the most important work I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve been in charge of the medical /vaccine piece of this regional clinic since it began in January 2021. We have given over 25,000 shots to date! Yay!”
Vivian Franklin
“As one of the city’s healthcare workers I have been working on all sides of COVID since March 2020. Going to vaccinate people from all corners of the state makes me cautiously optimistic and offers some relief from the ongoing stress of the pandemic.”
Merridith O’Leary
Avery N.
Maddie N.
Asheesh Siddique
“It reflects an immense accomplishment that government has been able to produce and distribute the vaccine as quickly as it had. This is truly unprecedented.”
Nicole Orent
Antonietta Mango
“The clinic is well run and the clients feel welcomed and at ease.”
Debra Rejniak
“Wonderful!!”
Anthony P.
“Very happy”
Tresor Akimana
“I’m pretty excited!”
Sharon O’Donnell Hart
Lisa Laveck
Justin Vanasse
Zoey A. & Emily L.
“Yay!!!” – Zoey “Yay!” – Emily
Ezra G.
“It was cool. Not COVID the vaccine. :)”
Amy Hutchins
“Honored to be a part of the vaccine clinic team.”
Casey Fowler
“Happy to be here vaccinating our community members.”
Susanna White
“I am just so very grateful! It gives me hope. It’s been a LONG year +”
Tammy Howard
Joaquin S.
Joy & Giselle O.
“This year has been very crazy and there have been so many low points, so I’m glad the vaccines are available and our lives will slowly go back to a more “normal” state.”
Samual J.
Leah Stanley
“It’s been great to be part of the vaccine clinic.”
Katherine Kramer
“It’s Inspiring to work with so many wonderful people!”
Jennifer Normanly
“Relief, gratitude.”
Jeffrey and Levi M.
“So glad to participate in getting back to a more normal social life here in the valley.”
Jennifer and Maxwell W.
“So proud about the scientific, medical and regional communities for making this happen so quickly and well. Relieved!”
Maggie Hurley
“Everyone should get vaccinated if they can! Do your job!”
Benjamin Kissinger
“I will be able to come home and see/touch my family. This thought makes me cry. Joy.”
Kathy Poissant
“So happy + relieved to be getting my 2nd vaccine. Life is soon to become more “‘normal.'”
Tracey Culver
“When I received my second shot, I felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. When I got called to receiving first shot, I felt like I had won the lottery.”
Ryan & Jen C.
“What a relief! What a sense of joy that life can move forward. Looking forward to what’s to come!”
Jayden R.
“I’m happy to get the vaccine today to help return back to a normal life.”
Tim Putnam
“What a time to be alive.”
Jack Favaro
Kevin Roy
Patricia Roy
Acer V.
“Halfway there.”
Jagger L.
“Happy to receive the vaccine today & hoping that things get better from now.”
Luna & Cleo B-W
“I’m really excited to get the vaccine so I can see my family, friends and the people that I love again. :)” – Luna
“I’m super excited to be vaccinated, sadly I will be fully vaccinated right as school ends.” – Cleo
Jill & Nancy Foley
“Volunteering at the clinic together is giving us hope for the coming months!”
Justin Vanasse & Elaine Shea
Michael L.
“I wish kids could get the vaccine. I play my cello at the clinic to share my music.”
Elizabeth Huang
“Really excited to get my second shot right before the finals! Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Ari & Renzo G.
” I was kind of scared but tbh it was worth it”- Ari
“‘You close your eyes, you grit your teeth, and then it’s over!’ – A very professional 13-year-old” – Renzo
Debra & David Rejniak
Daniel Musante
“Very relieved and excited.”
Michelle Piscopo
“I am excited to be getting my 2nd dose today!te”
Carlin Trietsch
“The pandemic has given us a chance to reconnect & think about our health.”
Barbara Nieves Aguilera
“I think it’s an important day in my life and in the history of humanity I feel and grateful to receive my full dose.”
Aurora & Kirk K.
Matthew S.
“Covid is a life changing illness, I’m glad we are fighting it.”
David Thomson
“I filled syringes this morning. I felt wonderful doing this! Thank you everyone involved!”
Larry Field
“Less talk. More injection.”
Georgiann Kristek
“I’m grateful to be part of the solution to this deadly pandemic.”
Aaron Bergeron
“I am grateful to be receiving my 2nd dose. The fear, the “pandemic panic” is beginning to melt away in people this summer. The growing trust in high quality vaccines is one reason why.”
Michael Belmarce
“Everything went good.”
Dale Melcher & Bill Newman
“Yay!!”
Sophia Casten
“SCIENCE IS AHHMAZING! So thankful for modern medicine and Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett! (The Black woman scientist behind the COVID-19 vaccine).”
Ann Mcewen
“After 1st vaccine I felt elated & also like a 50# weight was lifted off my shoulders. I’ve been volunteering at the clinic ever since & it fills me up to be of service to people at this important process.”
Allan Hutchison-Maxwell
“Excited to do my part to help reach herd immunity and I want to see vaccines equitably distributed for all people everywhere!”
Greta Ekstein
“Nervous yet excited. Also I’m starting to feel sleepy, but it’s worth it!”
Atsuko Takahashi
“quo The vaccine took a second and perhaps many of us have been waiting for this one-second for a year or more. Many people died or are still suffering physically and emotionally, but I hope that many good things will come and we will happily move on together! And, I hope my mother in Japan will be vaccinated soon.te”
Sierra Dunn
“I’m glad I got vaccinated (not today, I’m just volunteering), and I hope we can get everyone around the world vaccinated soon.”
Jim Kurose
“Very happy to volunteer to work at this local effort for good.”
Will Freedberg
“Best thing you can do for yourself, your friends + family, your community, THE WORLD.”
Brenda Delaney
“Excited, Grateful, Hopeful, Happy”
Laura Wang
” I’m so relieved and excited! I can see my parents now without worrying.”
Sue Keller
“A year ago we were told to shelter in place in our homes, not to go out, isolated except for our immediate families & Zoom connections. A year later we know so much more including how to be safer in community + how to be together which we have longed to do. The vaccine is another layer of protection that opens up our world to physical connection over social distance. More than anything, we need to be able to be with + hug each other.”
Joann Mizell & Barbara Jones
Volunteer RN – “Very please to be part of the team to deliver the vaccine” – JM
Matthew Drenen
Robin Thibault
Julia Lenney
“Excited to see my far-flung relatives.”
Amanda Hanania
“I’M SO EXCITED!! Woohoo! It’s so cool! This is history in the making!”
Fareed Hanania
” I cannot wait to visit family and friends! I really want to go out to restaurants and travel.”
George Beckwith
Shannon Park
“Vaccine = Best. Day. Ever.”
Al Cennerazzo
“Guard the card.”
Peg Conniff
Lisa Mccray
“Glad to have gotten it when I did. Very grateful. It gave me a chance to work with such an incredible crew of people.”