Mass vaccination sites open in New York City as COVID-19 batters U.S.

People are seen at a mass vaccination site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a woman peers in, at Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York City, New York, U.S., January 10, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - For Claudia Zain, a home healthcare aid in New York City, getting the first shot of the coronavirus vaccine on Sunday felt like being "a little part of history" that left her excited and hopeful for the future as the United States struggles to contain the raging pandemic.

"There's so many emotions wrapped up in what's happening right now and I'd like to be an inspiration for people who are wondering, 'Can I do this? Should I do this?'," said Zain, 47 after getting the shot at Brooklyn Army Terminal on a frigid Sunday afternoon. "You should do it because this is the way to move forward."