Connecticut’s largest-yet COVID-19 vaccine clinic opened Monday morning in East Hartford. It’s an effort that came together in one-weeks’ time. Health workers and people 75 and older are priority.
This is the largest vaccine clinic in our state. There are 10 lanes and five trailers ahead, vaccinating people on each side.
Aerial footage shows this one time Pratt & Whitney runway transformed in one week’s time into Connecticut’s largest vaccine clinic.
“This is about Connecticut working together. So we have the National Guard, you probably saw. We have the City of East Hartford, we have the Department of Public Health. We have lots of players,” said Mark Masselli, CEO, Community Health Center.
A key player in this effort Middletown-based Community Health Center. Its workers are the ones putting Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in arms of people who fall into 1A and 1B categories – including those 75 years and older. But 1B is a massive category that makes up nearly half Connecticut’s population.
You have to have an appointment before driving into one of these lines. The best way to get one: call 211. Essential workers also fall under 1B. But for now the state is prioritizing seniors.
East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc says it’s imperative everyone wait their turn.
“If we all just continue to practice social distancing, wash our hands, and wear face masks, we can wait our turn and continue to safeguard ourselves and our family,” said Marcia Leclerc, Mayor East Hartford.
And while this is the state’s largest clinic to-date… it certainly won’t be the last.
“We know the state is working on setting up more of these types of facilities,” said Masselli.
To start, the clinic will be open Jan. 18-22. Beginning Jan. 25, the clinic will be open seven days a week.
Pratt & Whitney Runway is located at 12 Runway Rd. More information about registering for an appointment can be found online.
Yale New Haven Health will begin vaccinating individuals who are 75 and older beginning Wednesday in North Haven, New London, Old Saybrook and Trumbull. Hartford Healthcare says its system is booked through February.
“We’re going to have to roll in in waves in Phase 1B and we’ll be notifying the next groups when appointments become available for them,” Dr. Diedre Gifford, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Health told News 8 on Friday.