Maya McFadden Photo
Irene Roesler gets her vaccination shot Tuesday at the new Hill library branch clinic.
The Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center this week expanded its vaccination efforts to the Wilson Branch Library in the Hill, where it was able to administer shots to 300 more people Tuesday in the continuing quest to beat Covid-19 amid a surge in cases.
Patients wait 15 minutes for potential reaction after getting vaccine.
Hill Health previously operated a temporary mobile vaccination clinic out of a trailer parked at its 428 Columbus Ave. headquarters. The partnership with Cornell Scott and the library branch at 303 Washington Ave. kicked off with a vaccination fair this past Saturday. The clinic operates by appointment only, Monday through Friday 8 a.m until 4:30 p.m. Around 1,000 vaccinations have taken place at the new spot in the first three days.
The mobile clinic was limited in space and appointment availability, said Chief Medical Officer of Medical Services Mark Silvestri. As vaccine demand increases, Cornell Scott has doubled its number of vaccine appointments in the library’s lower level.
If you are 45+, you can call Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center at 203 – 503-3000 for an appointment.
Patients leave with a reminder of their vaccination.
Since the beginning stages of vaccine rollout, Cornell Scott has focused on providing an accessible neighborhood vaccine clinic for residents said Silvestri.
Currently the library offers limited services from its upper level. Silvestri said he is looking forward to the library’s reopening to attract more neighbors to the clinic.
Irene Roesler was struggling to get a vaccine appointment before finally successfully getting her first shot Tuesday. “I tried three times before, and now this is my fourth,” she said.
Irene Roesler.
Roesler is a heathcare worker at a nursing home and group home. Her 76 year-old father, who lives with her, got vaccinated and ensured her it was a safe process. “I was not hesitant. I trust it will help us,” she said.
Cornell Scott also has a vaccination location at 226 Dixwell Ave. and in the gym of the Hamden Board of Education Building at 60 Putnam Ave.
Cornell Scott is working to provide vaccine credibility through its partnerships and a series of informational panels with health care professionals.
One of many reasons Silvestri has heard some residents hesitate because they’re unfamiliar with the vaccine. He said that is common when a new vaccine rolls out.
Outside of the clinic Tuesday.
To combat community hesitancy, Cornell Scott plans to continue its educations efforts surrounding the vaccine with public and medical professionals and to offer neighborhood walk-in clinics in the near future. “It will make for one less step for the community,” said Silvestri.
On Wednesday the clinic serviced about 37 patients per hour.
Like other health centers, Cornell Scott has been partnering with senior homes, churches, homeless shelters, and funeral homes to bring the vaccine to the community.
Silvestri reported that 60 percent of Cornell Scott’s vaccinations have been administered to racial minorities. Of that number, 80 percent are minorities on Medicaid or fall in the area of high social vulnerability, Silvestri said.
Of the 1,000 vaccinations at the library in three days, about 800 appointments have been for residents’ first dose, Silvestri said.
Anthony Pacheco.
Anthony Pacheco, 52, who lives in East Haven, got vaccinated to keep the community safe, he said. “We got to do what’s right.”
Pacheco has planned a trip to Florida in June.
Pacheco got his second dose Tuesday and said the entire process from getting the appointment to dealing with symptoms was easy and smooth.
Thank you to Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center and others for helping make it easier for underserved communities to get their vaccines. There is a real need to not only do these mobil clinics in neighborhoods but also a home visit vaccine van to reach home bound disabled and seniors who can't get to the vaccine clinics. The poor high risk elderly and disabled without friends or family available to safely give them rides to appointments, who don't live in nursing homes, and can't afford or can't risk using ride services and can't use the buses need to have vaccine access as well.