ECHN Announces 'Pause' In First Coronavirus Vaccines At Hospitals

VERNON, CT — Demand for the coronavirus vaccine and an abundance of responses to get the shots have caused Eastern Connecticut Health Network to pause its aggressive schedule at both area hospitals in order to get those already done with Round 1 a second dose before time runs out.

The announcement was made Wednesday by a plethora of officials from ECHN and area towns at the Rockville Public Library in Vernon with Rockville general Hospital in the background. Manchester memorial Hospital is also affected by the pause.

ECHN Director of Business Development Dan Del Gallo said the ECHN program has already vaccinated about 10,000 people. The success also comes with an obligation, he said, because that means 10,000 people also need their second dose within 43 days.

"If a second shot were not involved, we'd be having a different conversation, Del Gallo said.

But he said it's not time to panic because those eligible will get their shots.

"It's not a matter if if, but when," he said, pointing the obligation to administer the second doses.

Vernon Town Manager and Emergency management Director Michael Purcaro said the pause was "not unexpected."

"We knew we'd encounter fluctuations in the supply," Purcaro said. "More will be coming eventually."

Vernon's vaccine call center had a barrage of calls from confused people who were caught in the pause. Call center coordinator Michelle Hill said Wednesday was "very busy" after state officials announced the temporary shortage, ironically after touting a set of vaccine statistics the previous day.

Hill said Vernon officials are compiling a list of those still needing their initial shots and will begin assisting with appointments once the pause is over. The call center is open to Vernon, Somers, Ellington, Tolland and Stafford residents.

One caveat, Purcaro said, was that Vernon, through other partnerships, will likely be conducting its own vaccination clinics.

"The pause is at the two hospitals," Purcaro said. "When these critical vaccines become available through our other supply lines, we will make them available."

For example, Vernon took its mobile vaccination unit to the Florence Mill apartment complex Wednesday morning to get the shots to several senior citizens who live there.

Lt. William Meier of the Vernon Police Department, the site commander for the clinics, told residents not to panic.

"We had planned on this because of supplies," he said of the hospital pause. "But more vaccines are coming, and when they arrive, we will get them to the people who need them."