‘GIVING US HOPE’

Sacred Heart, St. Vincent’s partner to open COVID-19 vaccine clinic

FAIRFIELD — Like many other people, Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick struggled to make a timely appointment for her COVID-19 vaccine.

“I didn’t have much time running a town to be playing with the refresh button” on the state Vaccine Administration Management System website, Kupchick said.

Then, she said, she was invited to get her first shot at the new mass vaccination clinic at Sacred Heart University’s West Campus. The clinic opened Wednesday in cooperation with St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport.

St. Vincent’s parent company Hartford HealthCare has several mass vaccination clinics statewide aimed at vaccinating a wide array of people against COVID-19.

The idea is to get vaccinations into the arms of the “underserved and vulnerable,” said Vince DiBattista, president of Hartford HealthCare’s Fairfield region.

In a speech at Wednesday’s event, Kupchick said clinics like these help build on the work of local hospitals and health agencies that are working to protect citizens against COVID-19.

“This is a huge, huge resource for our community and surrounding communities,”

she said.

Kupchick was one of several people who spoke at the clinic’s opening. Another was Dr. Corina Marcu, associate vice president of medical affairs, Hartford HealthCare St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Marcu said it’s been nearly a year since COVID-19 hit Connecticut, and clinics such as the one at SHU prove there is light at the end of this pandemic’s tunnel.

“Today’s message is about hope,” Marcu said. “These vaccines are giving us hope. (And) to answer the question which vaccine should I get — the first one you are eligible to get. The first one you can get an appointment for.”

There are now three vaccines available against COVID-19 — two-dose shots produced by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, and a one-dose shot produced by Johnson & Johnson. Those at Wednesday’s

clinic received the Pfizer vaccine.

Others who spoke included Rodney Davis, 22, the first COVID-19 patient to be treated at St. Vincent’s. Davis was critically ill and spent 35 days at the hospital. Though not eligible for the vaccine yet himself, Davis spoke at the event to show support for St. Vincent’s.

“I’m very proud to be part of this family who saved my life,” he said.

Those getting vaccinated on Wednesday included Linda Reynolds, an on-air personality at the radio station HOT 93.7 FM headquartered in Farmington. Getting the vaccine is “very, very important,” she said. “It’s going to make me safe.”

The clinic will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For information about making an appointment, visit https://hartfordhealthcare.org/health-wellness/ covid-vaccine or call 833943-5721.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media People wait in line Wednesday for their appointments at Hartford HealthCare’s new mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic on the West Campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

Linda Reynold, of Hartford, takes a selfie with her cellphone as she receives a COVID-19 vaccination at Hartford HealthCare’s new mass vaccination clinic on the West Campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield on Wednesday.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media People wait in line for their scheduled appointments Wednesday at Hartford HealthCare’s new mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic on the West Campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick gives a thumbs up as she receives a COVID-19 vaccination from Jaime Vargas at Hartford HealthCare’s new mass vaccination clinic on the West Campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.