BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Connecticut is getting some help from the federal government, in making sure that every resident who wants a covid vaccine gets one.
Dozens of Bridgeport residents lined up early Monday morning to get their COVID-19 vaccine at the Beardsley zoo.
It’s all part of FEMA’s new mobile vaccination unit that’s set up at the zoo for just a cpuple days, and it will then move to several different spots throughout the city of Bridgeport, before moving to different spots throughout Connecticut.
“This van is starting off in Bridgeport, we’re going to make sure that no one is left behind. Everyone who wants one gets that opportunity even if they’re not sure, go talk to your friend, go talk to your family tell them it didn’t hurt, I feel a lot better and now you outta get vaccinated,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont.
The clinic will be set up there Monday and Tuesday, before it moves to four other spots in Bridgeport over the next 10 days.
In total this clinic will be seen at 17 different locations throughout the state over the next 60 days.Connecticut is the first state to receive this help.
“It’s no accident that this van is launching here in the state of Connecticut, as members of the federal delegation we’re able to put forth a robust grant request it was very competitive all 50 states all the territories wanted to have a roll out just like this,” said Rep. Jahana Hayes, (D) Connecticut.
On day one, the demand was great. They are accepting both appointments and walk ups.
However, there was only 200 vaccines to go around today.
“What we’re trying to manage is the amount of vaccine we have with the people that came up. We’re doing this in two ways, people pre-registered which is a certain number of vaccines and walk up. We just need to make sure we’re not going to over commit and what will happen is if we have more walk ups than we have vaccines, we will register them and have them come back here tomorrow and tomorrow and bring more vaccines to meet them,” said Dr James Cardon, Chief Clinical Integration Officer, Hartford Healthcare.
That is what happened Monday, dozens of people who showed up and waited in line, ended up being registered for a different day.
They plan to have another 200 vaccines tomorrow, and from there they will double it to 400 days going forward.
The 17 different locations were chosen based on the CDC‘s social vulnerability index. Monday residents received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, but all three vaccines will be used over the next 60 days.
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