MIDDLETOWN Aquidneck Island s first state-run vaccination POD is now open, offering COVID immunizations by appointment.
“For the islanders, myself included, we’re elated,” state Sen. Louis DiPalma, D-Middletown, said at the center’s media open house Thursday morning. “We’re ecstatic that this is here.”
The Ocean State opened two other vaccination PODs (points of dispensing) in Providence and Cranston. The new POD, which opened at 1400 West Main Road inside the former Benny s store in Middletown, began operations with the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Teams before transitioning control to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday.
The building is split into stations, and offers vaccines by appointment only. After signing up for an appointment time at vaccinateri.org and being greeted at the front door with a temperature and symptom check, visitors verify their appointments at the first station with their name and date of birth.