Ansonia, Derby ramp up vaccine outreach

ANSONIA — Tuesday’s pause of the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine has acted as a spur to the ongoing vaccination efforts in Ansonia and Derby.

The two cities have been working on getting more people inoculated and have plans that include mobile vans and Ansonia’s Mayor David Cassetti going door to door to sign up more residents for vaccination appointments.

Sheila O’Malley, the economic director for Ansonia, said the added efforts — already in the works — will help keep up with the rate of vaccinations that would have happened had the single dose shots continued to be given out.

Jessica Kristy, director of health for the Naugatuck Valley Health District, said few people in the area received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; they were mostly being administered to homebound residents. The district is now working on a plan to start using other vaccines.

“The NVHD has administered 25 J&J vaccines so far and we have yet to hear of any adverse reactions,” she said. “We are currently re-writing our plans to address (homebound residents) with the two-dose Moderna vaccine. We will be reaching out to patients to schedule over the next coming weeks.”

Ansonia has planned a Vax the Valley event for April 24 and alerted residents and state officials via email. City officials will gather at 10 a.m. in Gatison Park with a goal of signing up 500 residents for vaccine appointments at Griffin Hospital.

Officials will also hand out information about the vaccines. So far, 2,000 people have been vaccinated at Ansonia Armory.

The percentage of people vaccinated in Ansonia increased over the last week from nearly 32 percent on April 7 to nearly 39 percent this Wednesday. More than 7,000 people in the city have now had at least a first dose.

City Attorney John Marini said the outreach is crucial, especially now that the city can only use two-dose vaccines.

“We think the more people that we inform, the better that this push is going to help offset the loss we’re taking with Johnson & Johnson. It's really all hands on deck,” Marini said.

Marini said he worried about getting people from underserved communities and people of color to register. He said he felt the upcoming event will help build trust because it includes person-to-person outreach.

“We know (with) minority communities especially there is some hesitation,” he said. “You establish that link of communication with the residents and make a team effort.”

O’Malley said that she’s not that worried that there will be an increased vaccine hesitancy because of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“I don't think it'll scare people away from the other vaccines because they generally have made up their mind about Pfizer and Moderna,” she said.

State Rep. Kara Rochelle, D -104, is also working on getting vaccines in more arms.

“I'm happy to report that Griffin Hospital and I recently confirmed three vaccination clinics that will be open without an appointment to Ansonia and Derby residents, located in neighborhoods across the community for easy access to those who may not have reliable transportation,” she said.

The clinics are set for Iglesia de Dios Nuevos Comienzos, 101 Elizabeth St., Derby; and the Boys and Girls Club, 28 Howard Ave., and the Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries, 195 N. Main St., both in Ansonia.

In Derby, Chris Larocque, a member of the Valley Young Democrats, said the health district has been sending a van to help those who can’t get to vaccination sites.

“The Naugatuck Valley Health District has a mobile van that travels to Derby to reach homebound individuals who cannot drive to a local clinic, typically older Derby residents living with a family member,” he said.

Derby’s vaccination rate jumped from 33 percent on April 7 to more than 40 percent, or about 5,000 people with at least one dose, as of Wednesday.