Stamford moves to put pop-up vaccine clinics “where people tend to go.”
STAMFORD — You get a vaccine! And you get vaccine! And you get a vaccine! Everybody gets a vaccine! At least, that’s what Mayor David Martin wants to accomplish with the city’s new vaccination strategy.
Martin announced on Tuesday evening a series of pop-up COVID vaccine clinics across the city scheduled for the coming days and weeks. From Community Health Center to Stamford Health — healthcare providers throughout the city are scheduling ad hoc events with partner organizations that either waive the scheduling requirement or eliminate it all together.
“We’re going to put pop-up vaccines, walk-up vaccines where people tend to go,” said Martin, who is especially focused on getting the shot to residents who don’t want to go out of their way to get vaccinated.
“Over the past week, the landscape has really changed here in Stamford with vaccines. It is now very easy and accessible for everyone to get a vaccine,” said Laura Burwick, one of the mayor’s special assistants.
The city nixed the appointment requirement for its Tuesday afternoon clinic at the Government Center, which was initially created specifically for frontline workers. On Saturday and Sunday, another three no-appointment clinics are scheduled.
“This Sunday, we’re excited to have our first true walk-up event with no pre-registrations,” Burwick said. The clinic, which will take place in the Holy Name of Jesus Church parking lot, will run strategically from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. to catch the post-worship crowd. Only Connecticut residents 18 or older can participate.
Over on the East Side, Community Health Center has planned its own no-appointment clinic right on the beach. From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, beachgoers can take a break from their weekend festivities to get vaccinated at Cove Island Park with the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which the federal Food and Drug Administration said states could resume using.
“This will be a true pop-up,” said CHC Vice President Amy Taylor. “Anyone who will be out there enjoying the beauty of the beach on Saturday and Sunday will be able to get their vaccine.”
Moving forward, additional clinics are scheduled at the Stamford YMCA at 10 Bell St. on May 3 and 7 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m; at 1 Schuyler Ave. on May 15; at Building One Community on May 16; and at Bethel AME Church on May 22.
Even Stamford Health — the city’s largest vaccine provider — jumped in on the new strategy. The hospital’s epidemiology chief, Dr. Michael Parry, said Stamford Health would offer walk-up appointments at its 1 Elmcroft Road supersite starting next week.
Just under 50 percent of Stamford residents have at least the first vaccine, according to the latest data presented by Martin. Approximately 200,000 individual doses have been distributed by providers in the city.