COVID vaccine clinics scheduled in New Fairfield and Sherman

NEW FAIRFIELD — Griffin Hospital and the state Department of Public Health’s mobile vaccination team will continue offering vaccines in town over the next several months.

With one of the lowest vaccination rates in the area, local officials have been working to combat COVID-19 in New Fairfield through efforts to increase the town’s number of vaccinated residents.

At least 75 percent of New Fairfield residents had received at least one vaccine dose and nearly 66 percent were considered fully vaccinated as of the latest state data updated Dec. 29. Bethel is not far above New Fairfield, with 76 percent of residents receiving at least one dose and 67 percent fully vaccinated.

Weekly Saturday clinics at New Fairfield High School — which have been averaging 150 to 200 people a day in recent weeks, according to First Selectman Pat Del Monaco — will continue through at least March 26. The Saturday clinics for individuals 12 years and older are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Griffon Hospital’s vaccine van will also be at New Fairfield’s Saint Edward Catholic Church on Brush Hill Road from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 23, March 9 and March 26.

No appointments are needed and all three vaccines — Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson — will be available for first and second doses, as well as boosters.

To encourage the vaccination of school-age children in New Fairfield and the neighboring town of Sherman, six Wednesday clinics will be held at local public schools from 3 to 7 p.m. beginning next week.

Children as young as 5 will be able to get vaccinated during the after-school clinics — the first of which will take place at New Fairfield’s Meeting House Hill School on Jan. 12.

The schedule for the other five clinics is as follows:

⏩ Jan. 19 — New Fairfield High School.

⏩ Jan. 26 — Sherman School.

⏩ Feb. 2 — Meeting House Hill School.

⏩ Feb. 6 — New Fairfield High School.

⏩ Feb. 16 — Sherman School.

The after-school clinics will have stations set up to accommodate children over the age of 5, as well as stations for adults looking to get vaccinated.

School-age children have the lowest vaccination rate compared to other age groups in New Fairfield and Sherman.

In New Fairfield, 60.7 percent of children 12 to 17 have one vaccine dose, while 56.56 percent are fully vaccinated. Children 5 to 11 are at 27.3 percent with one dose and 16.6 percent fully vaccinated, according to state data.

In Sherman, 57.6 percent of children 12 to 17 have one dose, with 48.4 percent fully vaccinated. About quarter of children 5 to 11 have gotten their first dose, with almost 15 percent fully vaccinated.

As of Dec. 29, roughly 71 percent of Sherman residents had received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and about 62 percent of the town was considered fully vaccinated.

In both New Fairfield and Sherman, individuals 65 years and older are the most vaccinated population, followed by 18- to 24-year-olds.

Since March 2020, New Fairfield has had at least 1,488 confirmed cases and four confirmed deaths, while Sherman has had 369 confirmed cases and no confirmed COVID-related deaths, according to the latest state COVID data.