‘We have been waiting for this’

Vaccine providers prepare for 12- to 15-year-olds

NEW MILFORD — After word came Monday that 12- to 15-year-olds may become eligible for the Pfizer vaccine as soon as next week, New Milford and Danbury providers have started to organize vaccination plans for the next round of eligible residents.

“We’ve been waiting for this,” said Health Director Lisa Morrissey on Tuesday morning.

Indeed, Morrissey has been anticipating the announcement for several weeks now, and has already sent out communications to the New Milford schools superintendent and officials in nearby towns letting them know that New Milford is “poised to vaccinate” this youngest cohort. Today, she plans to

send out an advance-registration link to officials so that families can go ahead and fill out the necessary paperwork.

So far, New Milford has had five surrounding municipalities say they’re interested in partnering with the town’s vaccine clinic for younger residents, according Morrissey. Since the only vaccine eligible for younger age groups requires an expensive freezer that many towns’ local clinics do not have, New Milford is uniquely poised to help surrounding areas with their teen vaccination efforts.

“As soon as that approval does happen, they’ll get an email to let them know they can go ahead and schedule,” Morrissey said of their outreach efforts. “We do have a significant amount of vaccine on hand in anticipation that this would come in early May.”

The Community Health Center, Inc., which has been running myriad vaccination locations throughout the state including the Danbury Fair Mall mass vaccination site, is preparing in similar ways for the expanded eligibility, according to Mark Masselli, the health center’s founder and CEO.

The health center has reached out to the more than 50 schools whose high schoolers they’ve already worked been vaccinating, and are sending preliminary links and infomation to the schools so parents can get their kids signed up. While Masselli said they can’t be sure of the timing with official approval, they’re cautiously expecting to start vaccinations for 12 to 15-yearolds starting next weekend.

With a younger crowd, Masselli said it’s important to have multiple strategies for providing vaccines, including flexible transportation options.

“One size will not fit all with this population,” he said.

Masselli is encouraging schools to organize buses for students who want to attend a clinic to help with the transportation issues.

Families wanting to attend the New Milford or health center clinics will have the option to schedule an appointment or just walk- in with their kids.

New Milford’s clinic at the John Pettibone Community Center has transitioned recently to walk-in clinics and has been offering vaccinations to high school students in the area as far as Kent, Brookfield, Southbury, New Canaan and others.

Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn said their town will likely work with New Milford and the Danbury Fair mall site to get this next group vaccinated once eligibility becomes official. The town organized vaccination clinics at the mall site for their high schoolers, and held their first special clinic on May 1. Morrissey estimates that they’ve held at least seven or eight high school clinics so far and are accepting all ages at their walk- in clinics. She also noted that the option for walk-in clinics has seen especially good reception from families with teens because it means parents can bring the whole family along and squeeze in unscheduled appointments at a convenient, free moment during the day.

Currently, almost half of the physicians helping with New Milford’s clinics have some background in pediatric care, which “puts us in a really great position,” Morrissey said.

“They are comfortable working with younger populations and they’ve been doing the 16 and 17-year-olds.”

Morrissey is also trying to create a family friendly environment at the town’s clinic by partnering with local artists who can play music for those arriving to get their shot.

“We really are hoping that a lot of families take advantage of the opportunity,” Morrissey said. “I think overall it’s going to be very well received.”