Virus Vaccine Comes To Shelter, Food Pantry Clients In Vernon

VERNON, CT — The target of Vernon's mobile vaccination trailer Tuesday was, as the site director suggested, getting the town's "really most vulnerable" population its second dose of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine — the clients of the Cornerstone food pantry and homeless shelter.

Cornerstone's New Hope Shelter and donation center are located at 3 Prospect St. in the Rockville section of town. The organization has another facility down the road.

Tuesday's clinic was running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A total of 50 people received vaccines.

Lt. William Meier of the Vernon Police Department, the incident commander for all local clinics, said the folks getting shots Tuesday are not only a vulnerable population but "at risk for poor outcomes if they are infected with the virus.

"This location is an important part of the vaccination process," Meier said. "If someone here gets sick, it will affect a lot of people who are already struggling. We want to keep them healthy."
Vernon officials reiterated what they have been sating all along at the clinics."

"In addition to our weekend mega clinics at the Vernon Senior Center, we are committed to breaking down barriers and vaccinating the most vulnerable populations in our region," town officials said in a statement.

Town and agency officials said Cornerstone clients face a "variety of barriers" toward getting the vaccine, including a lack of access to computers and the online registration system, a lack of reliable information about the vaccines, a lack of transportation, and a general inability to get to a clinic.

Some Cornerstone clients also have food insecurity and health issues that put them at higher risk for complications if they are infected with the virus, agency officials said.

Municipal officials collaborated with staff members at Cornerstone, which reached out to clients and helped schedule appointments.

Since the vaccine became available, the town of Vernon has partnered with Priority Urgent Care, the North Central District Health Department and other organizations to host clinics in various regional locations to administer the shots. The medicine is transported by a mobile unit.

In the case of Cornerstone, Tuesday is the day its food pantry is open and patrons are used to going to Prospect Street early in the week to pick up groceries.

Other vaccine locations have been at the Vernon Senior Center, at local housing projects and at houses of worship.