As Vaccination Rates Sag, Connecticut Opens No-Appointment Walk-in Clinics

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Vaccination clinics across the state are allowing people to receive vaccinations without having an appointment, according to an announcement from Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday. 

In Middlesex and New London Counties, vaccine clinics offering walk-in appointments include 

  • The Yale New Haven Health Clinic at Mitchell College in New London

  • Greenville Drug Store in Norwich

  • The Yale New Haven Health Clinic at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville

  • The Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook

  • The Community Health Center Clinic at Wesleyan University in Middletown

  • Cross Street AME Zion Church in Middletown 

  • Middletown Housing Authority locations at Maplewood Terrace and Traverse Square

Lamont said on Monday that these clinics were just the start of a wider campaign. 

“We’re going to roll this out statewide, we’re going to have more and more no-appointment walk-up opportunities,” said Lamont. 

Patrick McCormack, director of health at Uncas Health District, said he thought the walk-in clinics would be helpful for people who have anxiety about getting vaccinated. 

“The walk-in option makes it easier for them to make the decision at the last minute,” said McCormack. 

McCormack said that over the last two weeks, they had seen a dramatic decline in demand for vaccines. He said this might be because the state had reached a point where most people who wanted a vaccine were able to get it. However, he said the temporary removal of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine from distribution might have made people more hesitant to get vaccinated. 

“In two weeks time, we went from having our clinics be full to having to reach out to people to see if they were interested,” he said. 

Lamont said that the number of vaccinations being given daily statewide had decreased by about 30 percent in comparison to a week or two earlier.

As of April 22, 46.3 percent of people in New London County and 55.2 percent of people in Middlesex County have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the state. Over all, 66 percent of Connecticut residents over the age of 18 have received at least one vaccination, compared to 54.2 percent of adults across the United States.

Data show that Lyme, Essex and Old Saybrook are the towns with the highest percentage of fully vaccinated individuals in the state. Old Lyme, Guilford, East Lyme and Madison also placed in the top 10. 

As an incentive for young people to get vaccinated, certain restaurants, including Grass and Bone and Oyster Club in Mystic and Flanders Fish Market in East Lyme are offering a free drink to anyone who can show proof of vaccination. 

Times and dates for walk-up vaccinations can be found at COVID-19-Vaccination-Walkup.


Emilia Otte

Emilia Otte covers health and education for the Connecticut Examiner. In 2022 Otte was awarded "Rookie of the Year," by the New England Newspaper & Press Association.

e.otte@ctexaminer.com