Town sets up hotline, vaccine clinic for resident 75 and older

PORTLAND — As the state works to remove obstacles for vaccine registration for those over 75, the town is organizing a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for as many as 80 residents.

The clinic, which is being held in conjunction with the Chatham Health District, will take place “early next week,” First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield said on Monday.

The clinic will be at the Portland Waverly Senior Center, at 7 Waverly Ave., Bransfield said.

Residents who do not already have

an appointment to get one can sign up for a vaccination by calling a hotline phone number, Bransfield said.

The number to sign up is 860 -262-7238.

“Call the hotline, leave your first name, last name and telephone number,” Bransfield said.

The announcement of the clinic came as Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday acknowledged there have been major obstacles for those over 75 in making appointments for the COVID vaccine. However, according to the governor the glitches should be ironed out as more health professionals reach out to seniors, and United Way 2-1-1 phone lines accept more calls.

For those setting up appointments through the hotline, a member of the Portland Public Library staff will return the call within 24 hours between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The staff member will ask some very basic questions about each individual’s health and any particular allergies, Bransfield said.

Once that process is completed, the staff member will schedule a clinic appointment for each individual, Bransfield said.

State residents 75 and over make up 7 percent, or about 270,000, of Connecticut 3.5 million population and according to the governor 25 percent of them have received the vaccine.

Lamont also announced new cases of the so-called United Kingdom variant of the virus was found in four additional COVID patients from New Haven and Oxford, bringing the statewide total to eight.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Portland Town Hall