Redding finalizes vaccine distribution site

REDDING — The town is partnering with Bethel for a COVID-19 vaccination program, according to health officer Doug Hartline.

Redding plans to distribute vaccines to those in the first phase at the Redding Community Center through the program. Hartline says the town chose the community center for its ample space, extensive parking and central location.

The health department is conducting walk-throughs to finalize the community center as Redding’s vaccination site and recruiting nurses and volunteers to help with distribution, according to Hartline.

Hospitals have begun and continue to vaccinate their own workers while CVS and Walgreens vaccinate those living in long-term care facilities, the advisory said, both of which are considered part of Phase 1A of the state’s distribution plan.

“Group 1A alone statewide includes approximately 232,000 people, and administering the vaccine and completing both doses could go up through January and February,” Hartline said in his advisory. He anticipates more people will be included in each subsequent round of vaccines.

Redding emergency responders, police officers, firefighters and school nurses are being signed up and scheduled for their first doses, according to Hartline.

The town will begin to prep residents in group 1B after the 1A group is fully vaccinated. Despite more vaccines — from Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca — on the horizon, officials say demand for the vaccine is “outpacing the supply.” Once other vaccines are available they predict the supply will “eventually outpace the demand.”

Until then officials are urging residents to continue taking precautions and avoid unnecessary travel during the holiday season.

Redding’s COVID-19 data shows that there was a bump in cases following Thanksgiving. The town’s positivity rate rose approximately one percent to 5.6 percent during that time.

“These numbers indicate there’s a lesson to be learned with this past Thanksgiving, and we all need to grasp and realize our role in minimizing the spread with the upcoming holidays,” Hartline warned in his update.