Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is announcing that Rhode Island is pausing administration of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine as federal partners continue gathering more information. No Janssen appointments had been scheduled for release today. RIDOH is directing vaccinators that had made Janssen vaccination appointments to not administer those doses. Additional information will be shared shortly regarding people who had already made appointments for Janssen vaccine. No information reported to RIDOH has indicated that Janssen vaccine represents a health or safety concern. However, RIDOH is taking this step in alignment with federal partners.
Vaccine eligibility for ages 16 and older People ages 16 and older who live, work, or go to school in Rhode Island are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. If you are eligible, you can schedule an appointment at a State-run vaccination site by visiting www.vaccinateRI.org starting April 19. People ages 16 – 17 must sign up for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. For help, call 844-930-1779 or 211. Visit C19vaccineri.org for more information.
Rhode Island’s Hard-Hit Community Vaccination Strategy Many Rhode Islanders living in specific geographies have experienced higher rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths throughout the pandemic. For example, in the seven hardest-hit ZIP codes, people of color as young as 25 are experiencing higher hospitalization rates than white people over 60 years old. Such differences are directly connected to the social conditions in which some communities of color are more likely to live and work every day, and to systems of structural racism and discrimination that have historically undermined the health and well-being of these communities. RIDOH believes reaching high vaccination rates across all individuals and communities regardless of ZIP code is key to saving lives and achieving broader population immunity. Rhode Island’s Hard-Hit Community Vaccination Strategy aims to ensure equitable vaccine access by distributing vaccine more quickly and deliberately in the hardest-hit ZIP codes. This includes focused efforts to expand access to and uptake of vaccine among communities of color at highest risk of hospitalization and death. Given the current limitations on vaccine supply, focused strategies are necessary to ensure vaccine access for the most vulnerable members of the hardest-hit areas in the state. The Hard-Hit Community Vaccination Strategy currently applies to the following ZIP codes in Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, West Warwick, and Woonsocket: 02860, 02861, 02863, 02893, 02895, 02904, 02905, 02906, 02907, 02908, 02909, 02910, 02911, 02914, 02919, and 02920. The Rhode Island Department of Health is collaborating with city, town, and community leaders in these ZIP codes and using available data to determine the best timing and strategy to expand vaccination opportunities for members of these harder-hit communities. This may include: Conducting vaccination clinics for community members in convenient locations (e.g., housing authorities, food pantries, community or faith-based organizations, etc.) Moving more quickly through eligible age categories across vaccination sites in hard-hit communities (e.g., through municipal and community-based vaccination clinics open to community members in identified ZIP codes) Expanding the number of community-based vaccination sites and providers Expanding vaccination opportunities through retail pharmacies, healthcare providers, and mass vaccination sites Increasing the number of doses allocated to hard-hit ZIP codes Central Falls Residents of Central Falls (ZIP code 02863) who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Contact the BEAT COVID hotline at 855-843-7620 or visit https://www.centralfallsri.us/coronavirus to register for a vaccine appointment. You can also make an appointment at a State-run vaccination site or participating pharmacy. Cranston Residents of ZIP codes 02910 or 02920 who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Visit vaccinateri.org to register for a vaccine appointment online. You can also make an appointment at a participating pharmacy. East Providence Residents of East Providence (ZIP code 02914) who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Visit vaccinateri.org to register for a vaccine appointment online. You can also make an appointment at a participating pharmacy. Johnston Residents of Johnston (ZIP code 02919) who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Visit vaccinateri.org to register for a vaccine appointment online. You can also make an appointment at a participating pharmacy. North Providence Residents of North Providence (ZIP code 02911) who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Visit vaccinateri.org to register for a vaccine appointment online. You can also make an appointment at a participating pharmacy. Pawtucket Residents of ZIP code 02860 or 02861 who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Contact the BEAT COVID hotline at 855-843-7620 or visit http://www.pawtucketri.com/Covid19 to register for a vaccine appointment. You can also make an appointment at a State-run vaccination site or participating pharmacy. Providence Residents of ZIP codes 02904, 02905, 02906, 02907, 02908, 02909, and 02910 who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Call 3-1-1 appointment or visit vaccinatepvd.com to register for a vaccine appointment online. You can also make an appointment at a State-run vaccination site or participating pharmacy. West Warwick Residents of West Warwick (ZIP code 02893) who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Visit vaccinateri.org to register for a vaccine appointment online. You can also make an appointment at a participating pharmacy. Woonsocket Residents of Woonsocket (ZIP code 02895) who are 16+ or 18+ (as appropriate based on the specific vaccine offered) are eligible for vaccine. Visit vaccinateri.org to register for a vaccine appointment online. You can also make an appointment at a participating pharmacy.
