NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) — Lately it’s been once and sometimes twice a week that the Uncas Health District has been able to hold its COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Rose City Senior Center in Norwich.
Add to that a stop by the FEMA mobile vaccination clinic next month and there are more choices for those who want to get their shot.
“I think they’re doing a wonderful job,” said Mark Kestner of Oakdale. He got his second Moderna shot Tuesday.
RELATED: Here’s where to find the FEMA mobile COVID vaccine clinic in CT
The FEMA mobile unit is making stops all around the state to target more vulnerable communities. In eastern Connecticut, the first stop will be Killingly at the end of the month and then Windham (Willimantic), Norwich, and New London in May.
Here is the scheudule:
- Killingly: 4/30/2021 and 5/1/2021
- Windham (Willimantic): 5/2/2021 through 5/4/2021
- Norwich: 5/5/2021 and 5/6/2021
- New London: 5/7/2021 through 5/9/2021
The stop in Norwich will be at St. Mary Church in the Greenville section of the city.
“Certainly there’s a need within that area because we tend to have people that are multi-lingual, people that, in many cases, lack transportation,” said Patrick McCormack, director of the Uncas Health District. “So this is an opportunity to bring the vaccine to them.”
“I have a grandma and she struggles like walking,” said Mariano Alarcon of Norwich.
He lives across the street from the church. He’s happy to see the mobile vaccination unit come so close to home for his grandmother and neighbors.
“It’s gonna be like pretty helpful for the community because a lot of people struggle going to like Hartford, Mohegan. It just depends how far their distance are,” said Alarcon.
The FEMA mobile vaccination unit is coming to the city next month but McCormack says Griffin Hospital is sending a mobile vaccination unit to the Rose City Senior Center Wednesday. So there is another opportunity for people to get their shot.
“Thursday they’re planning to be in Griswold and then on Friday they’d be in Montville,” said McCormack.
Griffin is expected to have up to 200 doses each day of the one shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“The opportunity is there so we don’t have to have people come back for a second dose,” said McCormack.
Local health districts will work with community groups to try to preregister local residents and decide if walk-ins will be allowed.
For more info: https://portal.ct.gov/Vaccine-Portal/COVID-19-Vaccination-FEMA-Mobile-Clinic
