Where To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI — Coronavirus vaccine distribution is underway in Rhode Island, and the state is scrambling to work out the kinks as quickly as possible and get shots into the public's arms.

Many residents have voiced frustration about the speed of the state's vaccine rollout, which has been slow up until the past few weeks.

This was a deliberation decision by the Department of Heath, Director Nicole Alexander-Scott said. The first phase of distribution was entirely focused on reducing hospitalizations and deaths while protecting the most vulnerable populations — the elderly in congregate care settings and health care workers. This targeted approach, focused more on public health outcomes than simply getting as many vaccine doses out as possible, met its goal, Alexander-Scott said, since Rhode Island has seen a much steeper decline in hospitalizations than neighboring states and the national average. In fact, the decrease in hospitalizations is so great that the department Monday announced plans to wind down the state's two overflow field hospitals.

Who Can Get Vaccinated

With the first phase of vaccine distribution coming to a close, the slow, targeted approach is being replaced with a larger-scale, accelerated plan based by age. Initially available just to residents 75 years and older, eligibility expanded this week to all Rhode Islanders aged 65 and older.

"Now it's time to move to our more public-facing administration of doses," Alexander-Scott said. "We want to do it as quickly and streamlined as possible."

Where to get vaccinated

Rhode Island is taking a three-pronged approach to vaccinations: state-run sites, community clinics and pharmacy partnerships.

The two state-run sites, one at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and Sockonosset Cross Road in Cranston, are designed for high volume and capable of vaccinating hundreds of people per hour. Appointments can be made online, or those who do not have internet access can call 844-930-1779. New appointments will be added twice weekly: starting at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and 5 p.m. Fridays, with additional appointments added sporadically throughout the week as they become available.

Dr. Alexander-Scott encouraged residents in the 65-to-74-year age group to utilize these high density sites, rather than other avenues.

Community vaccine clinics receive far fewer doses than the state-run sites. Most cities and towns have created lists of eligible residents and are reaching out to schedule appointments based on age. Eventually, the plan is to combine the state- and community-run sites to one centralized system, Alexander-Scott said.

Rhode Islanders can also get vaccinated at certain retail pharmacies, which are getting their vaccine doses directly from the federal government. Appointments for these sites, which include certain CVS and Walgreens locations, can be made directly through their websites.

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• RI's New Coronavirus Hospitalizations Back Within Safe Range