East Greenwich Hosts First Responder Vaccination Site

EAST GREENWICH, RI — The Swift Community Center in East Greenwich has been named the mid-state regional COVID-19 vaccination site for Rhode Island first responders.

Partnering with the City of Warwick and the Rhode Island Department of Health, the site began administering the vaccine on Dec. 28, according to a Facebook post from the Town of East Greenwich, and nearly 300 healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters, and EMTs were vaccinated on the first day.

Along with vaccinating East Greenwich first responders, the Swift Community Center will also serve first responders working in Coventry, Cranston, Exeter, West Greenwich, West Warwick and Warwick.

"This initial round is scheduled through mid-January with the second part of the vaccination process scheduled in late January, early February, with a 28-day separation for the Moderna vaccine," says the Facebook post.

The vaccinations are administered by appointment only and Rhode Island healthcare workers and first responders who are eligible to receive the vaccine must be wearing a face mask, use hand sanitizer, and be fever-free, said health officials.

"If presented with the opportunity, we are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated," said the town.

East Greenwich first responders were among those who were hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. In November, an emergency town council meeting was called after 21 members of the fire department tested positive for the virus, resulting in the two firehouses being understaffed and requiring the assistance of North Kingstown firefighters.