‘Stamford is on the right trail’ to vaccinate priority areas
STAMFORD — The main vaccine providers in the city say they are committed to helping the state reach its goal of giving at least 25 percent of COVID-19 vaccines to those who live in certain “priority” areas.
Last week, the head of the Department of Public Health sent a letter to vaccine providers across Connecticut asking them to make a pledge to administer at least a quarter of vaccines to those who live in the 50 “highest risk” zip codes in the state.
Acting Commissioner Deidre Gifford said the department made the list based on social vulnerability index scores. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention index considers employment, income, education, age, housing and race, among other variables.
DPH listed two zip codes in Stamford: 06901, comprising downtown, and 06902, which includes western and southern portions of the city.
Both Community Health Center and Stamford Health, which together have three vaccination sites in the city, said they are behind the state’s effort.
Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer, said during a news conference Thursday that the administration has regular meetings with providers to discuss strategies for ensuring that residents in “high-SVI zip codes” have access to the vaccine. So far, he said the measures include setting up dedicated call-in lines, setting aside appointment slots, deploying community health workers and running mobile clinics.
The providers in Stamford have employed at least some of those tactics already.
Ben Wade, Stamford Health’s senior vice president of strategy and marketing, pointed to the “No Barriers” program, which kicked off in January.
“Through our partnership with the city of Stamford and working with community organizations serving socially vulnerable groups, ‘No Barriers’ events occur regularly, at which time COVID-19 vaccination appointment blocks are reserved for these groups and staffed with translators, ambassadors and even transportation aides to break down barriers and increase access to this lifesaving vaccine,” Wade said in a statement.
Stamford Health spokesperson Andie Jodko added that the health system is “expanding the referral organizations and increasing the frequency with which we are hosting these events.”
Jodko also said Stamford Health is waiting for more information about how the state’s initiative might affect vaccine allocation.
Meanwhile, CHC — in partnership with the city and the Stamford NAACP, among others — sponsored a pop-up clinic at Bethel AME Church on Feb. 27 for people at least 65 years old.
“It was very busy,” said CHC spokesperson Leslie Gianelli, adding that there will be another clinic on March 27 to provide second doses to the people who got their first shot at the church.
“We look forward to sponsoring more vaccination clinics in Stamford to help achieve the state’s goal of vaccinating the most vulnerable,” Gianelli said in a statement, adding that CHC expects to get more doses from the state.
The organization has two permanent vaccination sites in Stamford, at 22 Fifth St. and at 110 High Ridge Road in the Lord & Taylor parking lot.
The CHC pop-up clinic took place in the district of city Rep. Gloria DePina, D-5, who applauded efforts by Mayor David Martin and Gov. Ned Lamont to ensure the vaccine reaches vulnerable populations.
“They’re reaching out to various … players in the city — the NAACP, Building One (Community), the Stamford Hospital, different organizations … to make sure that they get the word out to the community (and) let them know that the shots are available,” DePina said. “And they try to make it very easy for people to get the vaccination.”
She noted that some members of minority communities are hesitant to get the vaccine for various reasons, even though they have been “hit the hardest” by the pandemic.
“I just think as a community and community leaders, we just have to go out and just continue
Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer, said during a news conference Thursday that the administration has regular meetings with providers to discuss strategies for ensuring that residents in “high-SVI zip codes” have access to the vaccine.
to say, ‘This is something that you really should try and get done,’ ” DePina said.
And Rep. Annie Summerville, D-6, said she feels “confident that Stamford is on the right trail right now.”
“I think in the beginning it was very slow, but I think now there’s good outreach throughout the city,” Summerville said.
As of March 1, about 14 percent of Stamford’s residents had received a first vaccine dose, according to initial data.
“Given that one of our most important priorities for administering the vaccine is to focus on our highest risk and the most vulnerable population in our community — we welcome any assistance from the state,” Martin said in a statement. “The zip codes identified by (the) state seem to correspond with this priority sector. However, without more specific data from the state, it’s difficult to confirm.”
“We are doing everything we can to make sure residents in every corner of Stamford get vaccines,” Martin added.