Can't Get To A Vaccine? Vernon Residents Can Hitch An Uber Ride

VERNON, CT — Vernon officials Monday said the town has signed a contract with Uber Health to provide rides to coronavirus vaccination clinics to those who do not have transportation.

Town Manager and Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro made the announcement Monday as 35 seniors braved snowy conditions to get their shots at the Al-Noor Islamic Center. Vernon has been hosting clinics in the region with its mobile vaccine storage trailer.

"It's another way the town of Vernon is connecting the dots with getting this crucial vaccine to the people who need it and those on our most vulnerable populations," Purcaro said. "We signed a contract with Uber health to judiciously offer rides to this who are truly homebound."

Purcaro thinks Vernon is the first municipality in the nation to offer such a service.

Uber Health bills itself as a simple option for health-related transport.

"While traditional forms of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) exist, in practice they can be inconsistent and cumbersome to use. That's why we're delivering healthcare solutions for the future of NEMT," the according to a website promotion.

Residents can hitch a ride through the Vernon vaccine call center, 860-896-4568.

"This system reaches out to those who are truly challenged with transportation issues, those with limited family support and those who have mobility challenges," Purcaro said.

When pressed for an anecdote, one call center official said a few residents have already tried to pull a fast one. For example, one patient said he could get his own transportation but didn't feel like paying for it.

"That's not the point of this service," Purcaro said. "We cannot afford to offer it to everybody, but, for those with true needs, we wanted to go above and beyond.

"This service is another way to penetrate as deep as we can in the community to get the vaccine to this who need it. The vaccination to centers are great, but those who are truly alone might get left behind. It's all about implementing innovative and creative solutions to meet needs of those who are eligible for the vaccine. It all about solutions in Vernon."

See more about Vernon's mobile coronavirus clinics here.

The call center can also direct those who need coronavirus testing to several clinics both local and in the area.

See more about the latest mobile offering here.