The word’s out: Fire hall hosts bookmobile vaccination clinic

By Tim Mastro
Posted 6/5/21

FREDERICA — Todd Simonsen was returning from a fire call with the Frederica Volunteer Fire Department when he saw the Kent County Public Library’s bookmobile in the parking lot.

It …

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The word’s out: Fire hall hosts bookmobile vaccination clinic

Posted

FREDERICA — Todd Simonsen was returning from a fire call with the Frederica Volunteer Fire Department when he saw the Kent County Public Library’s bookmobile in the parking lot.

It wasn’t books Mr. Simonsen was interested in Saturday. It was receiving his COVID-19 vaccine.

The fire hall hosted the bookmobile, nicknamed Linus, for its first vaccination clinic Saturday. Linus will have five more clinics this month, through a partnership with Kent County officials, public health officials and a coalition in Kent County headed by Rev. Rita Paige, who aims to close the equity gap in vaccinations.

“I just wanted to go ahead and get vaccinated,” Mr. Simonsen said. “We had a fire call and I saw it was here and figured I might as well get it done and be finished.”

Levy Court Commissioner Eric Buckson drove Linus into the parking lot and was on hand to welcome those looking to be vaccinated.

“We felt like this was an excellent way to get into communities that are clearly maybe under-represented in the vaccination numbers,” Commissioner Buckson said. “Clearly the numbers are low. So why is that? Maybe it’s a lack of access, so let’s bring that access to them.”

“When we talk about the health ramifications of the virus, the highest numbers are in the communities that are now under-performing in vaccinations and that’s got to be fixed,” Mr. Buckson said. “If this helps, then I’m happy to play a part in it and the coalition has done a great job.”

The bookmobile will also be vaccinating at the Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club on Friday, June 11 (2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.), at a youth summit in the parking lot on the corner of Division Street and Kirkwood Street in Dover on Saturday, June 12 (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.), at the Spring Meadows Retirement Community in Smyrna on Wednesday, June 16 (2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.), the Milford Boys and Girls Club on Thursday, June 17 (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and at the Concert on the Green in Dover on Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m.

The Kent County Coalition has helped with more than 8,357 vaccinations.

Rev. Paige and Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long walked through residential neighborhoods in Frederica to find individuals for the clinic, knocking on doors and providing information on the vaccine to those walking or biking.

The clinic gave out both Pfizer, the only vaccine approved for those 12 years old and older, and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18 years old and older.

The Kent County Coalition is a partnership between organizations like First State Community Action, People’s Place, Bayhealth, NCALL Research, the United Way, the NAACP, the Delaware Division of Public Health, executive director of the Delaware Pharmacist Association Kim Robbins and several other community leaders and churches.

Commissioner Buckson credited the coalition and local officials for putting on an event which featured such a diverse set of individuals from numerous backgrounds.

“I believe this is the path forward to getting this country opened in its totality,” Commissioner Buckson said. “I want to represent both sides of the political spectrum. I appreciate and believe in a person’s right to choose and I chose to get vaccinated. Maybe the fact that I’m a Republican, that’s going out on a ledge. I don’t think so, but if it is, I’m willing to say it public and encourage everyone to do so.

“I appreciate your right to choose and I’m willing to say this is effective and I want to encourage you to join me.”

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