Health officials were preparing to vaccinate some 5,000 EMS workers, police, firefighters and palliative care and home health workers through five regional capsules this week. They ended up removing registration links and canceling hundreds of appointments after finding out that people who were not eligible at this stage of implementation had scheduled for vaccination, she said. Health officials are working with the supplier to ensure that there are checkpoints so that people do not cheat in the system.
“Demand for the vaccine is clearly high and people are willing to put others aside to vaccinate themselves and their loved ones,” said Mihalakos during a remote press conference on Tuesday. “We understand everyone’s concern and understand that there are many people on the front lines and we have limited amounts of vaccine.”
As of Tuesday, Rhode Island had received 46,000 doses of the vaccine and more than 26,000 people had been vaccinated, said Dr. Philip Chan, an infectious disease specialist at the Department of Health’s Preparedness, Response, Infectious Diseases and Emergency Medical Services. state . There were no reports of Rhode Islanders suffering from adverse side effects of the vaccine, he said.
However, Rhode Island is receiving fewer doses of vaccine than the 17,000 or more a week it had expected just a month ago, Chan said.
At this rate, “it will take a while to reach the entire state,” he said.
Tricia Washburn, head of the Department of Health’s Preventive Services Center and co-leader of the vaccine working group, said the state could receive more weekly doses in two months. The federal government bought 100 million additional doses and, with other possible vaccine candidates in the queue for approval, Rhode Island and other states could receive a boost, she said.
For now, however, the simple vaccination of Rhode Islanders who are most at risk for COVID-19 should take several months.
This week, the state continues to vaccinate hospital staff and patients at Eleanor Slater Hospital, medical staff and high-risk correctional officers and prisoners in adult correctional facilities, residents and employees of nursing homes and residents of Central Falls, the tiny congested city that has suffered the impact of the pandemic.
Overall, health officials said, the vaccine is being enthusiastically received. At the congregation’s care centers – the prison and nursing homes – many are eager to get the vaccine, said Mihalakos.
In hospitals, said Chan, “there is a lot of excitement. People are anxious. “
Amanda Milkovits can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMilkovits.