Woonsocket Launches COVID-19 Vaccination Program for Senior Residents 75 and Over
WOONSOCKET, R.I.: Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, Fire Chief Paul Shatraw and EMA Director Timothy Walsh today announced that Woonsocket is rolling out a program to vaccinate residents for COVID-19 at a community vaccination POD (point-of-distribution) center. In accordance with the Rhode Island Department of Health’s vaccination protocol, initial limited supplies of the vaccine received from the State will only be distributed to Woonsocket resident seniors who are at least age 75 and above due to their higher risks of COVID-19 infection. The City’s first weekly allocation from the State of 290 doses of vaccine will be distributed to eligible seniors on Thursday, February 18, 2021.
Eligible Woonsocket seniors are asked to register to be placed on a waiting list from which they will be notified when it is their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Registration for placement on the waiting list can be done on the City’s website at https://www.woonsocketri.org, or by calling the Woonsocket Senior Center during the hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 401-766-3734 should you not have access to a computer. Once registered on the waiting list for this two- vaccination process, all eligible seniors will be contacted by a representative of the City to schedule their vaccination dates and times for both their first and second vaccinations. Registration is for Woonsocket residents only, and participants will be asked to present proof of identity, residence, and age at the time of vaccination.
Mayor Baldelli-Hunt stated, “Initial supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine from the State are very limited and we will first be allocating these vaccines to our most COVID-19 susceptible senior residents in the most equitable manner possible.” The Mayor added, “It has been a long, difficult year for our residents and businesses, but the COVID-19 vaccines represent a light at the end of the tunnel, and I am very happy that our most vulnerable senior population aged 75 and above is now in line to receive their vaccinations.”
Fire Chief Paul Shatraw explained, “The supply of the vaccine to Woonsocket from the State is restricted right now, but the more supply we receive each week, the more vaccination appointments we will book.” The Chief advised, “We want all of our seniors who are eligible to receive the vaccine to sign up on the waiting list because we will soon be contacting everyone on that list for a future vaccination appointment.” The Chief concluded, “If you know any Woonsocket senior who is 75 and over, please share with them that they need to first register for the COVID-19 vaccination waiting list either on the City’s website or via the Senior Center’s phone number. We cannot emphasize enough that no vaccinations will be given to individuals who have not registered and booked an appointment.”
The City’s community vaccination POD is at the former Monsignor Gadoury School on 1371 Park Avenue. Entrance to the POD will be through the back door from the school’s rear parking lot. To keep the vaccination process orderly, please do not show up at the POD more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled vaccination time. Individuals who show up for their vaccination before then will be asked to wait in their car until 15 minutes prior to their scheduled vaccination time.
Students at Columbia University are filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school. They filed the complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on Thursday, demanding an investigation into the school's actions against pro-Palestinian students. The lawsuit alleges Columbia has mistreated students utilizing their first amendment rights. 
