Town of Redding Health Department COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
OVERVIEW
What COVID-19 vaccine is being administered at the Redding Health Department Clinics?
The Moderna vaccine is being administered in two doses, with the second vaccination appointment 4 weeks after the first vaccine. For questions concerning the vaccine, including who should not receive it, please contact your physician and also see the CDC website here.
It is not recommended to get the vaccine if you have received other inoculations in the past two weeks (including vaccination against Shingles), are taking immune suppressant drugs (such as Prednisone), have recently been exposed to COVID-19, or recently recovered from COVID-19. If you have had allergic reactions to vaccines in the past, or suspect you may be allergic to any of the ingredients in the Moderna vaccine, please contact your physician and consider being vaccinated at an appropriate medical facility.
Where are the Redding Vaccination Clinics held?
Clinics take place in the gym on the lower level of the Redding Community Center (RCC) at 37 Lonetown Road. All appointments will be scheduled in advance, based on eligibility and prior pre-registration in the Redding Health Department COVID-19 system. No walk-in vaccinations.
SCHEDULING
How are Redding vaccination clinics being scheduled?
Volunteer schedulers from the Redding Health Department are currently contacting, beginning several days before the clinic, individuals that pre-registered on the Redding Health Department website here, and who qualify according to the current Connecticut Phase guidelines.
How will I be contacted for an appointment?
You may be contacted by email or phone or both when vaccination time slots are available. The contacts are made in the timestamp order of pre-registration on the Redding Health Department database. All emails for scheduling appointments for Redding COVID-19 vaccination clinics will begin with “Redding.HealthDept.Volunteer”. If you have pre-registered there is no need to call or email the Health Department. Please be patient as we systematically contact those who have pre-registered.
How do I pre-register for the Redding Clinics?
There is a link on the Town home page or use this direct link here. It is a short form and needs to be filled out separately for each person in your household that is eligible, so spouses will fill it out individually, for example. Please double check your information before you submit it as errors may result in delays in contacting you.
I received an email to schedule an appointment at a Redding vaccine clinic, but my spouse (or another eligible household member) did not. Will I be able to schedule them at the same time?
If your spouse or other resident in your household qualifies under the current CT vaccine Phase guidelines, they also can register for a vaccine appointment at the same time. We are not able to accommodate individuals in your household who do not meet the current CT vaccine Phase requirements.
How will I schedule my second vaccine?
You will leave your first vaccination clinic knowing the date of your second vaccine at the Redding clinic. Typically, this will be 4 weeks (28 days later) at the same appointment time. For example, the residents who were vaccinated on February 26, 2021 will return on March 26, 2021. You will be sent an email reminder the week of the second appointment clinic.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
What should I bring/wear to my vaccine appointment?
For your first vaccine appointment – Bring a government-issued photo ID (such as a CT driver’s license), your filled-in printout of the 4-page VAMS Registration (which will be sent as an attachment to your appointment confirmation email), and wear a mask, and a shirt that will allow easy access to your upper arm. If you do not have a printer, copies of the 4-page VAMS Registration form are available on the porch of Town Hall, or as a last resort, are available on- site to fill in at the time of your appointment.
I already registered on VAMS, do I still need to fill out the registration form you emailed to me and bring it with me to my first vaccination clinic?
Yes, please print out the 4-page registration form, fill it in, and bring the completed form with you on the day of your first vaccine clinic appointment. This reduces your processing time at the vaccine clinic. If you do not have access to a printer, there are forms available on the porch of Town Hall and there also will be forms available on-site at the vaccine clinic.
When should I arrive for my vaccine appointment? Do I need to come early?
Arrive at your scheduled appointment time and bring your filled-in 4-page registration form. If you are not able to print out the registration form to fill it in, arrive about 10 minutes earlier than your appointment time and you may fill it in onsite. (See above for “What to Bring”.
OTHER QUESTIONS
I’ve already registered (or have an appointment through the VAMS registration system). May I still pre-register and receive my COVID-19 vaccine at a Redding Health Department Clinic?
The Redding pre-registration and appointment process is separate from VAMS, so you will need to pre-register in the Redding system to be contacted by Redding Health Department volunteers to schedule an appointment. If you are already holding an appointment elsewhere that you made through VAMS, but prefer the Redding clinic either because it is sooner, or a more convenient location for you, you may cancel your VAMS appointment through their website.
My doctor advised me to get the vaccine at a hospital, can the Redding Health Department facilitate that?
The Redding Health Department only has jurisdiction over its own vaccine clinics and does not have the ability to schedule or facilitate vaccination appointments at any hospitals.
There are some hospitals in the area that have their own registration systems for COVID-19 vaccination. Here is a link to the CT vaccination information portal here.
If you scroll down it lists providers that have their own scheduling systems, including Stamford Health and Yale New Haven Health.
This same link also has detailed information about scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through VAMS (Vaccine Administration Management System) where some local hospitals, including Danbury Hospital and Norwalk Hospital, book their appointments. In order to access these vaccination sites, you will need to register with VAMS, even if you already pre-registered with the Town of Redding Health Department.
I previously received my first COVID-19 vaccine at another location/provider. Can I schedule my second vaccine at one of the Redding Health Department clinics?
No, you must return to the same location/provider for your second COVID-19 vaccine. The Redding Health Department second vaccine clinics are not able to accommodate people who have been vaccinated elsewhere, nor can the Health Department staff or volunteers assist you in scheduling your second appointment.
I am currently subject to the Connecticut 14-day COVID-19 self-quarantine requirements (either because I am a “close contact” of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or I traveled outside of the state, other than to New York, New Jersey or Rhode Island). Can I still schedule a vaccine appointment for a Redding clinic?
Those currently in self-quarantine must stay home. Once having successfully completed the 10-day quarantine period and having been symptom-free for an additional 4 days, they can reschedule on a later date for a vaccination appointment. For more information on the CT mandatory quarantine for out-of-state travelers, see this page: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel