RI COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing Strategy Shifting To Doctor's Offices

RHODE ISLAND — With the state of the coronavirus pandemic changing, Rhode Island state health officials said they are transitioning state-run testing and vaccinations to doctor's offices and traditional health care partners.

State health officials said the change comes as COVID-19 becomes a "manageable endemic disease."

COVID-19 services, like testing and vaccination, are now widely available through multiple accessible channels, similar to how services for other endemic diseases are made available to the public, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health.

"Shifting these resources into our existing public health infrastructure means that COVID-19 is causing fewer disruptions to everyday life, and that ongoing COVID-19 vaccination and testing efforts can be managed by our provider partners who traditionally offer these services to Rhode Islanders," said Interim Director of Health James McDonald. "While this is an important step toward managing COVID-19 as an endemic disease, it is still important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines for the best protection. Now, you can easily do that at your doctor's office or a pharmacy, just like you would for the flu."

Vaccination Resources

State-run COVID-19 community vaccination clinics and at-home vaccination services will be available through June 30. Beginning July 1, people who want to get vaccinated or boosted can call their health care providers or use other options available at C19VaccineRI.org, such as retail pharmacies and Vaccines.gov.

If there is an increase in demand for the COVID-19 vaccine that Rhode Island's traditional health care infrastructure cannot support, state health officials said they are prepared to re-open state-supported vaccination sites.

Testing Resources

Pending a final evaluation of public health conditions later this month, testing will transition from state-run COVID-19 test sites to traditional health care channels and self-testing options on July 1. Health officials said the state is prepared to reopen certain mass testing sites for symptomatic people if COVID-19 community levels are high. If most of the state is designated by the CDC to be at a "high" community level at the end of the month, sites will remain open until community levels return to medium.