North Central District Health Department Gets Vaccine Grant

NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT — The North Central District Health Department Thursday received a grant worth $266,577 from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to address coronavirus vaccine "inequities" in and outside its jurisdiction.

The "Vaccine Equity Partnership Funding" is intended to increase access and availability of virus vaccines to the medically underserved vulnerable populations in the district and beyond, officials said.

The NCDHD serves the towns of East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Stafford, Suffield, Vernon, Windham, and Windsor Locks, and provides vaccination services to the town of Somers.

The Health District’s ongoing vaccination efforts include collaboration with Vernon’s Regional Vaccination Program and Priority Urgent Care of Ellington. The VEPF funding will include additional partnerships with ACCESS Community Action Agency,
Hartford HealthCare, and Eastern Highlands Health District.

Board of Health Chairwoman Diane Wheelock, said she is pleased that the Health District has received robust funding to expand vaccination efforts.

"The Board has vigorously supported COVID-19 response efforts through
every step of the pandemic," she said. "We are now focusing our efforts on reaching deeper into our communities to provide vaccination opportunities to underserved and vulnerable populations."

The proposed grant activities will focus on cultural and language-appropriate outreach and education as well as broadly increasing vaccination opportunities for the underserved.

"We are enthusiastic about working with additional partners with deep roots in the community to amplify vaccination efforts in and outside of our community”, said District Director of Health, Patrice Sulik. "Working with our partners, we will bring vaccine education and vaccine opportunities directly to people.”

People throughout the region can expect to see a variety of mobile and pop-up clinics where they "live, work, shop, and play," health district officials said.