Clinic Process

This page details information about smallpox vaccination plans in our area, should an emergency occur. It assumes that smallpox vaccinations will be administered either in the context of bioterrorism readiness or as a response to a probable or confirmed case of smallpox.

As soon as possible after the first case is confirmed, state and local health officials, in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control, will determine the appropriate scope (who, where, and when) of the vaccination response, based on size of the initial outbreak, the size and location, and the possibility that additional new and related cases will be identified in subsequent days. Ultimately, a decision may be made to vaccinate the entire population either in response to an outbreak of smallpox, or on a purely cautionary basis as part of bioterrorism readiness.

Since smallpox is a contagious disease, the highest priority for public health officials is to reduce the risk of transmission by immediately identifying and vaccinating close contacts of cases and isolating the cases.

This means finding people who were exposed to an infected person. The exposed person and those people he or she had been in contact with would then be given the vaccine. That is, the smallpox vaccine would be given to those people who had been, or could have been, exposed to an infected person. This approach creates a "ring" of vaccinated people around the people who were infected with smallpox and helps stop the spread of the disease. In prior outbreaks, it was this strategy of "ring vaccination" first used in the late 1960's that completely eradicated the disease.

Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton, Killingworth, Deep River, Chester, Essex
East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Hebron, Marlborough

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What is Smallpox?

In the Event of an Actual Emergency, Click Here for Information

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More Frequently Asked Questions

Clinic Process and Locations

General
Information

Hasn't Smallpox Disappeared?

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Smallpox Mass Vaccination Readiness Plan

How You Will Hear that There is an Emergency

Announcements will be released to the television, radio, and local newspaper media. Clinic organizers may also distribute flyers to targeted populations in apartment buildings, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and/or religious centers in our area.
This Web site will be updated with new information if there is an emergency, to include the rationale of the vaccination strategy in place, and steps being taken locally for disease containment to help assure that all possible measures are being taken to prevent the further spread of the disease in our area.

Clinic Process
& Locations

Where to Go

In selecting clinic sites, consideration has been given to ensuring a smooth flow of area citizens, accessibility of the facility to major streets, restroom facilities, parking, refrigeration of the vaccine, heating/air conditioning, and protection from the elements if lines form outside.

Clinic location and directions, dates and times of operation, length of time the vaccination process may take, and what type of clothing to wear will be posted on this site by February 15, 2003.

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The District 35 Towns,
Can I Be Vaccinated There?

Department of Health and Human Services
HHS
Smallpox Information

Connecticut Department of Public Health

Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response

Center for Disease Control
(CDC)
Smallpox Information

Vaccine
Information

How the Vaccination Process Will Work

When you arrive at the vaccination center, you will be routed to the clinic entrance by security personnel who will be assisting in outside traffic flow and parking.

Upon entering the building you will be directed to a location where a greeter-educator will brief groups (up to 30) about what is going to take place during the vaccination process. You will be provided with all required paperwork and will be instructed on how to complete the necessary paperwork. Time will be allowed for reading and filling in the required personal information (name, address, etc). The number of persons in the orientation briefings may vary to accommodate the rate at which people arrive.

You must have a form of identification to show that you are a resident of Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton, Killingworth, Chester, Essex, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough or Haddam. A drivers license, or other form of identification which includes your address must be presented at the clinic. Children under sixteen must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

YOU MUST BE A RESIDENT OF OLD SAYBROOK, WESTBROOK, CLINTON, KILLINGWORTH, CHESTER, ESSEX, DEEP RIVER, EAST HADDAM, EAST HAMPTON, HEBRON, HADDAM OR MARLBOROUGH TO BE VACCINATED IN THE DISTRICT 35 CLINIC(S) DUE TO THE FACT THAT VACCINE ALLOCATIONS WILL BE BASED ON TOWN POPULATIONS. IF YOU DO NOT RESIDE IN ONE OF THESE TOWNS, YOU MUST GO TO YOUR DISTRICT CENTER TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

After orientation and completion of the paperwork, the clinic flow coordinators will direct you to registration tables where staff will check your form for completeness and accuracy.

After insuring that the paperwork is completed appropriately, you will be directed by clinic flow controllers to the medical assessment area. Here medical screening personnel will discuss with you individually the medical conditions that would prevent receipt of the vaccine and determine if any such conditions are present. They will also review the common reactions to the vaccine with you. Persons with suspected medical contraindications will be directed to a separate station for more in-depth evaluation. You will be asked to sign the consent form before proceeding further.

After medical assessment, if you have no medical contraindications you will be directed to the vaccination area. This area will be a screened area that affords privacy to persons who find it necessary to remove clothing in order to expose to vaccination site. A vaccination assistant will help you expose your upper arm and cleanse the vaccination site if necessary. You will then proceed to the vaccine administrator who will administer the vaccine and complete the necessary documentation. Immediately thereafter, a vaccination assistant will apply a bandage to the vaccination site and instruct you on post-vaccination care of the vaccination site.

Before leaving the clinic, you will be routed to a forms collector stationed near the exit. An individual will collect all required paperwork, answers any remaining questions and inform you that you have finished with the process.

VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN THE VACCINATION PROCESS ARE NEEDED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER CLICK HERE