Dunkin' Donuts Center, Middletown Vaccine Sites To Close June 26

PROVIDENCE, RI — Two of Rhode Island's state-run mass vaccination sites will close by the end of the month, state leaders announced Thursday. The Dunkin' Donuts Center and Middletown sites will close June 26.

"This doesn't mean that the pandemic is over," said Tom McCarthy, the executive director of the state's vaccine distribution effort. "What it means is that we're full-swing into phase three of our vaccination effort.

The vaccine site at Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston will remain open throughout the summer and at least into the fall, McCarthy said.

Closing the Dunk vaccine site will allow the arena and the adjacent convention center to prepare for the return of in-person events, Gov. Dan McKee said. With the convention center field hospital packed up, events will resume in August, he said, with events expected at the Dunkin' Donuts Center by the fall.

Instead of focusing on large-scale vaccine sites, the Department of Health is continuing the transition to small-scale, community focused pop-up clinics. These include bringing vaccine doses to Roger Williams Park Zoo, the opening night of the Newport Gulls, the Hope Street farmers market and more, McCarthy said. Any community leader or organization interested in setting up a clinic is encouraged to reach out to the department.

The department is also working to get vaccine doses into primary care providers' offices. To date, more than 25 pediatricians and family doctors have been trained to administer doses in-office, McCarthy said, with more being onboarded every day.