Hartford HealthCare opened a mega vaccine clinic at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford Monday to help provide greater accessibility for communities as the state expands eligibility.
“We can accommodate up to 10 vaccinators at a time based on the space we have here,” said Kelly Toth, APRN, the Operations Manager for the mega clinic at the Oakdale Theater and One Liberty Square in downtown New Britain. “One vaccinator can cycle through 100 vaccines in their seven-hour shift. So we can potentially do a thousand vaccines in a day,”
“We are opening up access to our communities with these mega vaccine clinics and getting everyone vaccinated so that we can get through this pandemic,” said Gary Havican, president of MidState Medical Center and The Hospital of Central Connecticut.
A tremendous amount of work has gone into setting up and staffing the mega clinics. Many of those who are part of the operation are giving their time to help vaccinate.
“This is an exciting day as we expand our mega vaccine clinics here at the Oakdale Theater. We truly believe in this vaccine,” said Sean Boyle, RN, MBA, regional director of the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute.
“As a physician I am volunteering here today because I believe in this,” said Dr. Camelia Lawrence, director of Breast Surgery for The Hospital of Central Connecticut and MidState Medical Center. “I think it’s so important that we get the message out to all the communities that have been impacted by this virus so we can get a hold of this and make sure everyone has access, in particular communities of color, which have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 virus.”
Right now, appointment availability is based on vaccine supply.
“I encourage anyone who is still trying to make an appointment to keep trying because more appointments will open up in MyChartPLUS,” said Toth.
“We are working in lock step with the state of Connecticut,” said Havican. “We have the logistics and the process set up, so it’s all about the vaccine supply. The more we can get the more we can deliver.”
How to Get a Vaccine
Anyone in the eligible groups can get vaccinated at a Hartford HealthCare vaccine clinic. An appointment is required to ensure safety. No walk-ins are allowed. Supplies are limited, so please be patient.
People eligible for a vaccine who already have a MyChartPlus account can log in and make an appointment at a Hartford HealthCare vaccine clinic. If you don’t have a MyChartPlus account, set one up on Hartford HealthCare’s MyChartPlus.org website.
If you’d prefer to schedule your appointment by phone, call the Hartford HealthCare Access Center at 860.827.7690 or toll-free at 833.943.5721.