2/3/2021
Cumberland rolls out town-based vaccine effort
Jonathan Polak, deputy chief of the Smithfield Emergency Medical Services, hands out assignments to John Pliakas, chief of the Cumberland EMS, during a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for ages 75 and older at Smithfield High School last Saturday. (Breeze photo by Charles Lawrence)
CUMBERLAND – Cumberland Emergency Services personnel are uniquely equipped to administer the COVID-19 vaccine independently, so the town is undertaking its own effort this week after senior citizens in most Rhode Island communities went to centralized regional locations over the weekend.
Chief of Emergency Medical Services John Pliakas said vaccines were to arrive on Monday through the state-supplied vaccination program and be distributed during the week.
2/2/2021
City planning to take vaccines to the people; online form launched
Jonathan Polak, deputy chief of the Smithfield Emergency Medical Services, hands out assignments to John Pliakas, chief of the Cumberland EMS. Emergency Medical Services from the 10 towns of Burrillville, Cumberland, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, Smithfield, North Smithfield, Scituate and Woonsocket conducted a mass COVID-19 vaccine inoculation for area residents 75 and older at the Smithfield High School gymnasium last Saturday, Jan. 30. A total of 1,100 doses of the vaccine were distributed. (Breeze photo by Charles Lawrence)
PAWTUCKET – During an opening weekend of vaccine distribution, it became abundantly clear that having Pawtucket’s elderly residents find their way to a Providence clinic was less than ideal, said city officials.