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Polish Originally posted on The Shoreline Times
Gov. Ned Lamont’s mandate opening up COVID-19 vaccinations to those age 55 and over and to school personnel has created a flurry of activity along the shoreline.
East Shore Health District health educator Barbara Naclerio said, “We didn’t know ahead of time,” but that “things are changing at lightning speed.”
ESHS is charged with distributing vaccinations in the schools and clinics which are planned for school personnel at Branford High School and the senior centers, as well as Madison, Guilford, North Branford, and East Haven. Naclerio said that schools are picking their oldest staff members and signing them up for slots every day this week. The state has mandated that all school staff receive the first dose by the end of March.
The supplies are there, Naclerio said, and the state has a contract with Johnson & Johnson for its new vaccine, so that should be coming in.
The Branford school district has been under fire for its reluctance to open schools for in-person learning five days a week. Naclerio said, “Every community is different. Each community has to make their own decisions.” East Haven, for instance, has more latch-key kids who could fall through the cracks with parents working multiple jobs.
In Guilford, some 100 school staff and teachers are getting the vaccine Monday, March 1 at the Nathaneal Greene Community Center. Vaccine clinics will continue Saturday, March 6 at another location, according to Guilford Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman.
Freeman said they plan on vaccinating some 150 staff members at the Saturday clinic, where “we will be continue to be working with the East Shore Health District” and collaborating with four other towns. Freeman hopes to have all Guilford school personnel before the end of the month.
“We anticipate to vaccinate all of our staff between three to four weeks,” Freeman said.
Naclerio noted that safety measures in place have been “very good” in all the school systems, which is “why we haven’t seen any spread within the schools,” adding that most of the spread has come from homes.
Naclerio said, “[COVID]Cases far exceed the number from the fall. We will see what happens.”
She encourages people to sign up through CVS, Walgreens, or their health care provider through http://esdhd.org/ in lieu of the VAMS website.
In addition for those having trouble scheduling online, the Connecticut Vaccine Appointment Assist Line is expanding; 125 appointment specialists are on duty and 10,000 appointments per week are available. Call 877-918-2224.
Further down the shoreline, In the Ledge Light Health District, which, among other towns, covers Old Lyme, East Lyme and Waterford, officials say the health district is collaborating with several other agencies to plan for the vaccination of education and childcare workers.
Director of Health Stephen Mansfield said the district is working with the Uncas Health District, Yale New Haven Health System and Hartford HealthCare.
“We are happy to announce that both YNHHS and HHC have agreed to stand up mass vaccination clinics dedicated for these employees within both Ledge Light and Uncas Health District jurisdictions,” he said in a statement to school superintendents and childcare providers.
“We appreciate the collaboration and efforts of YNHHS and HHC as well as United and Community Family Services and Community Health Center, Inc. as we work together to address the needs of our communities.”
Mansfield said Hartford HealthCare has agreed to stand up dedicated education vaccination clinics at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. He said education and childcare entities that are within the jurisdiction of Ledge Light Health District will be invited to attend these clinics.
“Yale New Haven Health System has agreed to stand up dedicated education vaccination clinics at the Mohegan Tribal Nation,” he said. “Education and childcare entities that are within the jurisdiction of Uncas Health District will be invited to attend these clinics.”
Mansfield noted that YNHHS and HHC utilize MyChart to manage vaccination appointments. He said a link will be provided to officials to share so employees can create a MyChart account and register for a vaccination appointment.
“This effort is to provide our education and childcare partners with a clear path to registration and vaccination appointments that are dedicated for them,” he said.
Mansfield said the plan does not preclude any eligible individual from independently seeking a vaccination appointment at the provider of their choice. A list of local providers on our website at www.llhd.org.
“Please understand that this is a work in progress, and we are all working together to design the most efficient system for vaccinating education and childcare employees through the month of March,” he said. “As more details become available, we will share them with you.”
And finally, in the rush to vaccinate the population, East Shore Health District’s Naclerio said we can’t forget the need for testing.
“People still need that,” she added.