Governor Ned Lamont on Monday hosted a news conference at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport to announce the deployment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s first-in-the-nation COVID-19 mobile vaccination unit.
Connecticut was selected by FEMA to be the first state in the country to receive one of these units, which consists of two mobile trailers. It will be on loan to Connecticut for the next 60 days and deployed to targeted communities based on the social vulnerability index. The unit will unveil its first clinic at the zoo. To sign up and other sites see here.
The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered at the locations below:
From FEMA:
In alignment with President Biden’s plan to respond to COVID-19, FEMA Region 1 has worked close with the State of Connecticut and local municipalities to utilize a mobile vaccination unit to support jurisdictions in providing COVID-19 vaccinations to all those who want one.
In the ongoing effort to bring the COVID vaccine to communities and people in socially vulnerable areas, Connecticut will open the country’s first Mobile Vaccination Unit (MVU) on March 29, 2021 at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The MVU will travel throughout Connecticut for 60 days to reach populations in 17 communities. Destinations were targeted based on the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index, U.S. Census Bureau’s Community Resilience Estimates, low vaccine coverage, metrics and other barriers to vaccine access. The MVU will be used to complement ongoing efforts of local public health departments, health care providers, pharmacies, community and faith-based organizations, employers, private sector vaccinators and other federal resources. Municipal and community partners are coordinating outreach to high-risk and vulnerable residents about the MVU and assisting with appointment scheduling.
Staffing for the MVU will be provided by UConn Health, Griffin Health, Hartford Healthcare, and Trinity Health of New England. The sites will also be supported by the Connecticut National Guard and municipal partners for non-clinical staffing.
The MVU is expected to handle a minimum of 250 people per day including walk-in capability within the available supply. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine will be used to enhance efficiency and maximize the number of doses administered through the team. To ensure equity of distribution of the vaccine, the targeted municipalities listed are divided among the 60-day mission.
“The partnership with FEMA and the federal government has been exceptional, providing support to our state during this critical time as we continue to move as fast as possible to vaccinate as many residents as we can,” said Gov. Ned Lamont. “This first-in-the-nation Mobile Vaccination Unit is a vital tool in our toolbox to reach communities across Connecticut which have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to take every step possible, working with our network of vaccine providers, and with the support of our Congressional Delegation to ensure our distribution is equitable and touching every corner of our state.”
OMG!!!
What an embarrassment!
The state should just hire or force a Director of Public Health on the city. See how fast Ganim manages to hire one then.
So sad. So, so sad.
This is great but if, “In the ongoing effort to bring the COVID vaccine to communities and people in socially vulnerable areas, Connecticut will open the country’s first Mobile Vaccination Unit (MVU) on March 29, 2021 at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut,” is this area of Beardsley Zoo more vulnerable than other areas of the city?
Ron, I updated post to include other areas of city the unit will visit.
Thanks Lennie, I don’t see the East End listed.
Lennie
Did Joe say what’s taking so long to hire a new Public Health Director or is he taking his time for more dramatic effect?
Bob, I feel bad for Eric because he has to the negotiate the police and firefighter contract, then run the Labor Relation Office plus run the Personnel Office and give the test for a new police chief, a new Health Director and a new Labor Relation Director. That’s too much work for one person.
No Ron. They will farm out the contract negotiations to outside lawyers.
They will not be giving out any tests in the near future. The mayor’s inaction can be interpreted as such.
And send everything else to arbitration.
Taking a look at the locations it doesn’t look like there is anything in the 132nd, 133rd or 134th. Is the city still using Central High School? Does the city have something for seniors in the high risers in those districts?