Vernon Now 3 Months With Vaccine Trailer As State Touts Its First

VERNON, CT — As Gov. Ned Lamont was touting the "first" mobile coronavirus vaccination unit in the state and nation, Vernon officials were preparing to vaccinate every school system staffer with a second dose via a unit that has already been operating for there months and fresh off a trip to a homeless shelter.

The Vernon mobile vaccination trailer, a partnership with Ellington-based Priority Urgent Care is slated to get teachers and school system staffers vaccinated with a second Moderna dose Thursday.

It has had a hand in more than 10,000 vaccines since late January. Late last week, 50 clients of the local homeless shelter where vaccinated.

Lamont was calling the state's mobile unit a "first," and it was, if one counts a unit being supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"Connecticut is the first state in the nation to receive a FEMA Mobile Vaccination Unit," Lamont said in a Tweet. "It's on loan to us for 60 days, and we’ll be deploying it to communities based on the social vulnerability index. Today we sent it to Bridgeport, and I'm heading there now to see it in action."

Vernon Town Administrator and Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro said schedules have been meticulously planned to reach vulnerable populations. Stops in the area have included senior centers, houses of worship, the teachers clinic and the local shelter.

House calls were even made to a mobile home park for the elderly.

"Mobile clinics are an effective and efficient way to get life-saving COVID-19 vaccine to our most vulnerable communities," Purcaro said. "We have been using mobile clinics in Vernon to reach the most at-risk residents since January."

Purcaro praised FEMA or pitching in.

"We are delighted to see the State of Connecticut and FEMA increase their capacity to offer mobile clinics," he said.