Oakdale opens as mass vaccination center

WALLINGFORD — Under normal circumstances, people lining up on a weekday morning at the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theater would be looking to buy concert tickets.

But on Monday the Oakdale had more of a lifesaving mission. Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the fabled music venue made its debut as a COVID-19 mass vaccination site for Hartford HealthCare.

The Oakdale mass vaccination center was opened to reduce the size of the crowds flocking to another Hartford HealthCare site, MidState Medical Center. The majority of people that will be coming to the Oakdale in the coming weeks will be individuals getting their second dose of

the vaccine, according to Hartford HealthCare officials.

Among the first people to get their vaccination Monday was Jacqueline Sweeney of Hamden.

“It’s wonderful to realize that I will be able to be in contact with other people again,” the 85-year-old Sweeney said after receiving her shot. “We’ll have a little more freedom. At least I can be in the presence of my family and I can go shopping, which I like to do.”

Joe Occia is a truck driver from Westbrook and was the first person in line Monday morning to get vaccinated. Occia said he was “very

excited” to be getting his shot.

“Kind of relieved, too,” he said. “I am looking forward to the day when we don’t have to wear any masks. But for now, I’m erring on the side of caution.”

Among the Hartford HealthCare volunteers administering the vaccine was Dr. Camelia Lawrence, director of breast surgery at MidState Medical Center and

The Hospital of Central Connecticut, in New Britain.

“The vaccine represents hope for me,” Lawrence said before she began administering the shots. “It’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Initially, the Oakdale vaccination center will be open six days per week and has the capacity to give 1,000 shots each day, according to Hartford HealthCare officials.

Gary Havican. vice president of Hartford HealthCare’s Central region, said the logistics in Connecticut already are in place to go well beyond the 1,000 people per day who will be getting their shots at the Oakdale if

enough vaccine is made available to the state..

“Now that the Johnson & Johnson (vaccine) has gotten approval as well, we’re going access to more vaccine.” Havican said. “It’s all about the vaccine. The more we can get, the more we can deliver.”

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media Kristina Crivellone, a first-grade teacher at Troup School in New Haven, and colleagues are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Hartford HealthCare staff wait for the first customers at a new COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theater in Wallingford on Monday.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Dr. Camelia Lawrence, left, of Hartford HealthCare gives Joe Occia of Westbrook his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on the first day of a new COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theater in Wallingford.

Hartford HealthCare Central Region president Gary Havican listens to APRN Kelly Toth, center, speak to the media on the first day of a new COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theater in Wallingford.

Joe Occia of Westbrook displays his “I got the SHOT” sticker on his forehead while waiting in the observation area after getting his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.