Greenwich To Offer COVID Vaccine Clinics To Kids Age 12-Plus

GREENWICH, CT—First Selectman Fred Camillo gave his weekly COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, and indicated continued good news regarding cases around town. Greenwich Hospital and Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools, Dr. Toni Jones, also announced plans for administering vaccinations to children aged 12 and up.

Greenwich Hospital will offer the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 and up at the Brunswick School clinic on Thursday. For appointment info, click here.

"It's certainly a very exciting time to know that we can vaccinate these school-aged children," said Anna Cerra, the chief nursing official at Greenwich Hospital.

Jones notified parents in an email that vaccination clinics will be held at the town's middle schools and Greenwich High School. Family Centers will help run the clinics:

May 20, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., GHS
May 24, 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Eastern Middle School
May 25, 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Western Middle School
May 27, 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Central Middle School

Jones noted that the vaccine is not mandatory for students, and that parents will have to make decisions on their own.

Both Cerra, and Caroline Baisley, the Director of the Greenwich Health Department, encouraged young people to get vaccinated.

"Even though we have not really seen any kids within that age group that we've seen here at Greenwich Hospital or that I've heard within the system contract COVID-19, I would venture to say it's the right thing to do," Cerra said. "Many mothers have personally called me to try and get an appointment to vaccinate their kids. With herd immunity, it can only help us. If I had kids that age, I would vaccinate them. Trust the science."

Baisley said that even though kids don't get seriously ill with COVID-19, they can pass the disease on to family members or other people.

"The vaccine has proven itself to be very effective and safe," Baisley added.

Dr. Stephanie Paulmeno, a nurse who works in the Department of Health, said she has received a number of questions asking how undocumented people should go about getting the vaccine.

"They're under the impression that if they come in and sign for a vaccination, that they're going to be brought to the attention of ICE. I've been actively working over the last week and this week to let people know that there's nothing when they sign up for the vaccine that will bring them to the attention of ICE," Paulmeno said, adding that there is a Spanish speaking nurse in the Health Department.

The Latest Numbers

According to Camillo, as of May 11, Greenwich had registered 5,095 COVID cases since the pandemic began, which is up 36 cases from last week. Total active cases, however, sat at 44, down 36 from May 4. Zero deaths were reported, as the death toll remained at 89.

"We know that all the trends are going in the right direction. The weather is getting warmer, but with variants out there we want to make sure people don't let their guards down," Camillo said.

At Greenwich Hospital, according to Cerra, there were five patients being treated as of Wednesday, down from 10 last week. No patients were in the Intensive Care Unit.

"The same drop is reflected in [the Yale New Haven Health System], with 85 patients [Wednesday] across all five hospitals, down from 136 last Wednesday.

Cerra said there's a "feeling of elation" at the hospital with COVID patient numbers in the single digits.

For more on COVID at Greenwich Hospital, click here.

Honoring Nurses

Before Wednesday's briefing, Camillo issued a proclamation declaring May 12 as "Nurses Day" in the Town of Greenwich. Several nurses from Greenwich Hospital and the town were in attendance.

To read more about the proclamation, click here.