Over 140,000 Coronavirus Vaccinations Distributed In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — Almost 143,000 total coronavirus vaccinations have been distributed in Stamford thus far, many of which were second doses, according to Mayor David Martin.

During a livestream held Tuesday evening, Martin said the primary contributor to that number is Stamford Hospital, in conjunction with the city, who has distributed around 85,000 vaccinations.

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Martin also noted the Community Health Center has contributed heavily to that number, having distributed around 57,000 vaccinations.

According to Martin, 36.1 percent of Stamford's population has received at least their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine as of April 7.

On Tuesday, the city began a planned series of clinics that will administer vaccines to restaurant and other essential workers, Martin said.

The first clinic was held on the fourth floor of the city's Government Center building from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with additional clinics planned for each Tuesday over the next few weeks, Martin said.

While Tuesday's clinic was primarily focused on restaurant workers, Martin said the city hoped to eventually administer vaccinations to grocery store and personal care service workers.

"Thinking of it selfishly," Martin said, "the economy opens stronger if every patron of every restaurant and every salon and every grocery store knew that all of their staff were vaccinated. That improves our overall economic health, as well as providing for the safety of that individual and their family by getting this vaccination."

Martin noted the city had initially hoped to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for these vaccination clinics, however the Moderna vaccine was ultimately used as a result of the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent recommendation of a pause in use of the J&J vaccine due to blood-clot concerns.

"We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution," the FDA announced on Twitter.

Michael Parry, Stamford Health's chair of infectious diseases, emphasized during the livestream that 98 percent of the vaccines Stamford Health and the city have administered thus far are Pfizer and Moderna.

Breaking down the numbers, Parry said Stamford Health and the city have distributed 84,185 vaccines as of April 11. Of those vaccines, 77 percent have been Pfizer and 21 percent have been Moderna, while only 2 percent have been J&J, Parry said.

"Between Stamford Health and the city of Stamford," Parry said, "we've administered about 1,700 J&J vaccines...with no serious adverse effects to our knowledge."

Individuals who had an upcoming appointment scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine will alternatively be offered either Pfizer or Moderna and/or have their appointment rescheduled.

Parry said Stamford Health's current supply of the J&J vaccine is limited and the pause will not impact any operations at their mass vaccination clinics. He also noted they are awaiting further guidance on the best way to proceed with the J&J vaccine.

"We still think [J&J] is a good vaccine...it's very effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, just as the other two are," Parry said, "and, as you know, it's very easy to administer this vaccine because it's a single-dose...it makes it ideal for use in these mobile clinics, in door-to-door outreach and for people who may have difficulty returning for a second dose of vaccine."