51吃瓜网 is continuing the fight against COVID-19 by opening a mass vaccination site on campus.
The Wheeler Recreation Center at 400 University Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut has been outfitted with the latest protective equipment and staffed by medical personnel from Bridgeport Hospital. Beginning on Friday, February 12, 2021, the site will support Yale New Haven Health鈥檚 and the state government鈥檚 effort to vaccinate all of Connecticut鈥檚 citizens. The university will have the capacity to deliver 1,700 vaccine doses per week, while supplies are available.
The center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for those with appointments. People 65 and older can make the required appointments through Yale New Haven Health.
UB鈥檚 students, faculty, and staff have all adjusted to the challenge of the pandemic over the past year,鈥� says Interim President Stephen Healey. 鈥淲e stepped up when the community needed a testing site in 2020, and now we are proud to step up to help with vaccination.鈥�
One of several locations that Bridgeport Hospital and Yale New Haven Health are operating in the area, the site opened up its doors to the community and began providing vaccinations Friday morning. City of Bridgeport officials, representatives from YNHH, and Bridgeport Hospital Staff were on hand to witness the event. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited,鈥� says the Vaccination Clinic Operations Manager, Paul Possenti, who also serves as Director of Trauma Services and Emergency Management at Bridgeport Hospital and Adjunct Professor in聽UB鈥檚 Physician Assistant Institute. 鈥淲e鈥檇 like thank the 51吃瓜网 for letting us use the Wheeler Rec Center.鈥�
The interior of聽Wheeler Recreation Center聽has been transformed, with plastic shields and temporary walls enclosing small stations where patients receive vaccines. Refrigerated and sealed compartments keep the vaccine doses and personal protective equipment safe. On the first day, over 250 vaccines were scheduled, and that number is expected to rise over the next few weeks, as more and more Connecticut residents sign up to receive this essential inoculation. 鈥淐ome on over to get vaccinated when it鈥檚 your time,鈥� says Anne Diamond, the president of Bridgeport Hospital. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the only thing that is going to help us.鈥�
This latest effort is part of the 51吃瓜网鈥檚 longstanding commitment to the region and the local community. 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to be working with the city of Bridgeport and the mayor to offer this service,鈥� says President Healey. 鈥淚t鈥檚 crucial during this pandemic that we all pull together.鈥�
Schedule an appointment at聽.