'We Will Come To You': RI Vaccine Clinics Head Into Communities

PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island continues the race to get the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents as soon as possible, state leaders are working to get vaccines into the communities where they are needed most.

Each community clinic aims to vaccinate about 50 people. While preregistration is available, walk-ins are encouraged, and an appointment will be guaranteed at another clinic to anyone who shows up and supplies have run out.

Thursday morning, the National Guard partnered with community leaders to set up a clinic at the Scalabrini Dukcevich Center in Providence.

Lt. Col. Brendan Carroll, the director of the National Guard's COVID-19 response in high-density communities, said there will be vaccine doses available to everyone who wants them. By going into communities directly, the National Guard is working to break down barriers to accessibility, such as language, transportation, vaccine hesitancy and even immigration status.

"There's the opportunity to get a lot of people vaccinated who want [a dose,]" Carroll said. "We want to make it as easy as possible for people to come in and get a shot."

Many of the community sites were previously set up as COVID-19 testing sites. Identifying a site is not the difficult part, Carroll said, rather getting community leaders to reach out to the Guard, set up a clinic and, most importantly, drum up support, so residents show up to get their shot.

"I'm almost pleading," Carroll said. "We want to go where the arms are ... I want arms, and I will come to you."

Carroll isn't making empty promises. Just a few minutes after speaking with members of the media, he could be heard talking on the phone, promising to send a member of the National Guard to a person's house who could not make it to the clinic themselves.

Ilcia Arreage, who has worked at the center for more than a decade, said both the vaccine clinics and weekly testing have been welcome relief in the community. Particularly in communities with many Spanish-speaking residents, she said it's important to make sure that everyone who comes to get tested or vaccinated feels welcome.

"We've seen a lot of people here, so we're happy," she said. "The most important thing is to make sure people feel comfortable."

Gov. Dan McKee, who toured the site, said community vaccine clinics are part of the states "pick and shovel" vaccination effort: getting on the ground in communities to make sure no one is left behind.

Carroll called for community leaders — church leaders, business owners, really anyone with connections to community groups — to reach out to the National Guard to set up a clinic in their community and encourage people to attend. Anyone interested in setting up a clinic is urged to email him directly at brendan.j.carroll.mil@mail.mil.