City Of Providence Announces Immediate Vaccine Eligibility For Residents Ages 18+ In Neighborhoods Hardest Hit By Coronavirus

Press release from the City of Providence:

March 22, 2021

PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza today joined Council President Sabina Matos to announce that the City of Providence has been granted authority by the Rhode Island Department of Health to immediately begin registering eligible Providence residents ages 18 and older in some of the neighborhoods hardest-hit by COVID-19 in the state for vaccination clinics. These neighborhoods comprise the zip codes 02904, 02905, 02907, 02908, and 02909. This change is part of the State’s High-Density Community vaccination strategy. Through this strategy, the State is accelerating vaccine distribution in communities hardest hit by COVID-19.

“Vaccinations are effective at reducing the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, which is why it’s important to focus vaccination efforts in settings where the risks are most severe,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “In the seven hardest-hit zip codes throughout the state, the COVID-19 hospitalization rate for people as young as 25 is higher than the hospitalization rate in the rest of Rhode Island for people over 60 years old. Today’s science and data-driven approach brings us yet another step closer to stop the spread of COVID-19 in communities hardest hit by the virus.”

Residents ages 18 and older living in zip codes 02904, 02905, 02907, 02908, and 02909 are eligible for vaccination clinics managed by the Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and community partners. All eligible Providence residents ages 60 and older will still have access to PEMA and state clinics. Appointments are available on a first-come-first-served basis. All Providence COVID-19 vaccines are available to residents at no cost and insurance is not required. Vaccines are available to all eligible residents of all immigration statuses.

“I believe that vaccinating as many people as we can, as soon as we can, will help to lower the rate of communal spread in our hardest-hit and most densely populated neighborhoods,” stated Council President Sabina Matos. “By opening up vaccines to residents 18+ and allowing them to use other sites such as our state-run clinics and pharmacies will provide for greater access to getting vaccines in arms.”

Providence residents ages 60 and older, 18 and older with specific health conditions outlined by the Rhode Island Department of Health or 18 and older living in zip codes 02904, 02905, 02907, 02908, and 02909 are encouraged to register for vaccine clinics through the City’s online portal VaccinatePVD.com [vaccinatepvd.com]. If residents cannot register themselves, they are asked to please call and connect to the Mayor’s Center for City Services by dialing 3-1-1 or (401) 421-2489. Representatives are available to help fill out the registration form on the constituents’ behalf in English or Spanish.

This press release was produced by the City of Providence. The views expressed here are the author’s own.