‘IT MEANS HOPE’
Newly vaccinated at Danbury Fair mall look to the future
DANBURY — It was the one time in her life Karen Mulreed said she was happy to be “old.” Or at least old enough to be included in Connecticut’s latest phase of eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The 63-year-old from Westport hopped in the car last week and headed to Danbury Fair mall for the opening day of its mass vaccination clinic. She had secured a mall appointment days earlier, when eligibility opened to those ages 55 through 64, after an hour and a half on a call line.
“It was worth the wait,” Mulreed said.
Danbury’s newest site, operated by the Community Health Center Inc. and Nuvance Health with help from the National Guard, was still ironing out a few kinks at noon as the first few residents pulled up for their shots. While a few said they experienced minor holdups
and timing issues with their appointments, most were just grateful they were finally getting a shot. By the end of the day, around 300 had received a vaccine.
Many said they could start to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Actually, when I got the appointment, I woke up the next morning elated,” said Joanne Hudson, 58. The Redding woman had logged on at midnight on March 1 to secure her spot after watching her husband, 10 years her senior, go through the process.
“Honestly, we should all just feel grateful,” Michele Seewald, another Redding woman, said. “I really didn’t care where it was, it could have been a McDonald’s for all I care.”
The site can vaccinate up to 600 people per day by extending hours, staffing, car lanes and adding weekends. The hope is to eventually administer 1,000 doses daily.
As they sat in their warm cars waiting the requisite 15minute observation period, the newly vaccinated read over vaccine pamphlets, sent text messages and called friends and family, and thought about what that shot would mean for their lives. When people reached their time limits, the National Guard waved them forward and out of the parking lot, and others pulled into their spots.
Overwhelmingly, they were excited about reconnecting — with the world, with in-laws, children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends. They were looking forward to enjoying a good meal outside of their homes at their favorite spots, and moving around with more freedom.
Kathryn Susnick, 64, was in the very first group of people to go through the drive-through vaccination line. For the Newtown bookkeeper, the vaccine meant being able to see her grandchildren without worrying.
Another grandmother, Elizabeth O’Connor, who clarified that she was “64 and threequarters,” would soon be able to see her 2-month-old grandson for the first time.
Mulreed has lived alone during the pandemic and was excited about possibly visiting her son in San Francisco soon. She’s looking forward to seeing friends and going back to her favorite restaurants. Her first stop? “The Cottage!” she said, laughing.
With more and more people being vaccinated and Gov. Ned Lamont easing restrictions across the state, residents are ready to return to their favorite haunts. Some people haven’t been out since this time last year.
Joanne Hudson said she knows the exact date of the last time she dined out: March 14, 2020. Her daughter’s birthday.
“I can’t wait to eat at a restaurant again,” Hudson said. “We haven’t gone out at all because my husband’s high risk.”
Hudson dreams of traveling again with her husband as soon as they’re able. Perhaps from Paris to Venice, she said. But for now, she was headed home to make some lunch and care for her husband who was recovering from his second COVID-19 shot.
Michele Seewald said she’s looking forward to traveling and leaving her home without feeling paranoid. After her shot, she was going home to celebrate with her three Norfolk terriers.
It was a quiet victory for those at the mall. The major battle — getting an appointment — had been conquered. Now, they had to register and wait for their second dose.
“For people who are here, and all the people who benefit from the people being here, I just think it’s a sign of better things to come,” O’Connor said. She was debating pouring herself a glass of wine when she got home to celebrate.
“It’s like really until the second one, we’re still kind of in lame-duck period,” said Pete McPadden, 56, who drove with his wife, Kristi, 55, to get their shots at the same time. The Brookfield couple is planning to visit their daughter in California as soon as they can.
“It means hope,” said Pete. “It means a step forward.”
“It means getting back to the way things were before COVID hit,” Kristi added.