Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing Information

This page is your resource for up-to-date information on vaccinations and testing for the Mountain towns including Andover, Bondville, Chester, Jamaica, Landgrove, Londonderry, Peru, South Londonderry, Weston, Windham and Winhall.

This information is current as of 1:00 pm on April 12,  2021

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Vaccines

The vaccine program is governed by the state. The vaccines will be administered in phases dictated by the state. The exact schedule is significantly dependent upon the amount of vaccine the state receives from the federal government in any given week (which is unpredictable).

 Who is currently eligible for the vaccine?
Health care workers (which includes some first responders ) and long-term care residents and staff. 

Residents age 30 or older. 

Residents 18 and older who have one of the following health conditions: current cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD,  heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies), immunocompromised state, severe obesity, pregnancy, Types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus, down syndrome, sickle cell disease.

Residents age 16+ who identify as  black, indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) and the members of their household.

Parents and primary caregivers of children with high-risk health conditions who are too young to get vaccinated are eligible to be vaccinated. This will help ensure these parents and caregivers remain healthy enough to care for their child, and that they not risk bringing the virus into the home.​

​Teachers, school staff and licensed day care workers.​ Vaccines for these people will be coordinated through their employer.

How do I sign up to be vaccinated?
Shots will be available by appointment, to avoid lines and to make sure there is enough physical distancing between people. In our area, there are two options:  most of the vaccine appointments are through the state , the registration process is below.

​A second and separate option is through Walgreens Pharmacy.  If you are eligible to receive  a vaccine (over age 50 or over age 16 with a high risk health condition) you can register directly with Walgreens.  Walgreens pharmacies located in Manchester and Bennington, including other areas of the state, are included.  Click here to be connected to the Walgreens registration site.  In the northern part of the state you can also schedule a vaccine through Kinney Drugs. Click here to schedule a vaccine with Kinney Drugs. 

PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR, PHARMACY OR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BECAUSE THE ONLY REGISTRATION IS THROUGH THE DEDICATED STATE WEBSITE AND PHONE NUMBER and through Kinney and Walgreens Drugs 

 1. Registration with the state for an appointment by telephone  Call 855-722-7878 Monday-Friday 8:15-5:30, Saturdays and Sundays 10:00-3:00.   Please be patient- do not hang up and call back multiple times, this will only result in your call being put at the end of the line. The wait times on the phone tend to be long the day or two after appointments open for  a new age group. But after the first several days, wait times are reasonable - about half an hour.

2.On-line registration with the state for an appointment.   Unless you are comfortable with a computer it is probably easier and faster to get an appointment via telephone (if you wait a day or two after registration opens for a new age group, wait times are reasonable and there are enough appointments for all that are eligible). If you are comfortable with a computer, registering on line is not difficult.  A short video walking you through the process can be found here.  
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Registration is a two part process:  
A.  Set up or log into an account. If you already created an account for testing purposes, you can use that account to schedule the vaccine. Click here and press the "log in" button in the upper right hand corner of the page.  Then enter the email used to set up the account and your password. Then go to step B below.

If you do not already have an account,  CLICK HERE  or go to https://vermont.force.com/events/s/selfregistration 
to set up the account
​      1. You will need to provide name, date of birth and an email address. The same email address cannot be used for more than one person to set up an account.  If you share an email address with family member, have one person create the account and then add other household members as "dependents", explained more fully in step 6 below. Please be careful when entering your email address- - if it is not entered correctly you will not get the email described below.
      2.  An email will be sent to you that gives your patient identification number.  The email will also provide a link that you need to click to confirm your account and to create a password.If you do not see this email, make sure to check the spam folder in your email folders.
      3. Next a consent form will come up, and you need to check the consent box.
      4. Next a page wherein you need to provide personal information such as mailing address, your preferred mode of communication (electronic or postal service) needs to be completed.
     5.  After you press the submit button, the next page has a has several blue buttons on the upper right hand corner of the page. If you are registering for a spouse or dependent, click on the "add a dependent" button and add the information for that person.  
    6.  If no dependents, or if you have finished that step, press the blue button that says "schedule the vaccine " and follow the steps outlined below. You will be asked for whom you are making an appointment.  First choose your name, and go through the process outlined below.  At the end of the process for registering yourself for an appointment, a page will come up that allows you to schedule an appointment for a dependent.  Choose the dependent's name and repeat the process of scheduling a vaccine.

B.  Scheduling the vaccine. If you have already created your account,  go to the State COVID 19 Event Portal by clicking here,  log in (the button  is in the upper right hand corner of the page)  and after logging in  press the button "schedule the vaccine".  You  will be asked for the following information:
      1. Name
      2.  Address
          You must be a Vermont resident to register unless you
          live out of state but work in Vermont or your primary
          health provider is in Vermont, or if you moved to
          Vermont in the last 6 months with the intention of
          becoming a resident
      3. Date of Birth
      4. Phone number
      5.  E-mail (if available)
      6.  Health insurance information (helpful, but not
           necessary)

Then, you will answer some medical screening questions:

1. Have you ever had an immediate allergic reaction to any other vaccine or injectable therapy, an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components (including polyethylene glycol [PEG]), or an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to polysorbate? If the answer is yes, this person cannot get any of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines. They should consider contacting their health care provider if they have questions.
2. Are you currently sick with COVID-19 or still in your isolation period following a COVID-19 infection? If the answer is yes, the person cannot get a COVID-19 vaccine at this time, but can schedule an appointment at a later date.
3. Have you received another vaccine in the last 14 days?
4. Do you have a weakened immune system caused by something such as HIV infection or cancer or do you take immunosuppressive drugs or therapies? If yes, the person can make an appointment but they will be advised to talk with their health care provider before getting vaccinated.
5. Do you have a bleeding disorder or are you taking a blood thinner? If yes, the person can make an appointment but they will be advised to talk with their health care provider before getting vaccinated.
6. Are you pregnant? If yes, the person can make an appointment but they will be advised to talk with their health care provider before getting vaccinated.
7. Are you breastfeeding or lactating? If yes, the person can make an appointment but they will be advised to talk with their health care provider before getting vaccinated

If you are eligible for a vaccine because of a high risk health condition, you will be asked questions about that condition.  You do not need to have documentation from your health care provider regarding your condition.  But you will be asked for contact information for your health care provider (if you have one) and the department of health may contact your provider to learn more about your condition.

You will then be able to select a vaccine clinic site, then an available appointment date and time at that site. If the search for the county in which you live does not bring up any sites with available dates and times, broaden your search to adjacent counties.  If a location is fully booked within the time perimeter you are seeking, your computer may just "hang" and not bring up any information. 

A verification of the date, time and location of your appointment will be sent to your email.

Where can I get vaccinated?
In our area, vaccination sites will be set up in Weston, Manchester, Springfield, Bennington and Brattleboro.  For a  map of vaccine sites throughout the state, click here.  When you register, you will be able to select a vaccine clinic site.  PLEASE SELECT A SITE NEAR YOUR HOME AS THE VACCINE HAS BEEN ALLOCATED THROUGHOUT THE STATE BASED ON DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.  

Vaccines for people who are homebound will be administered through a partnership between local Home Health and EMS agencies. People who are 40 years and older and are both homebound and in the service of local home health agencies (including both VNA agencies and Bayada) will be contacted by the home health agency.  
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As for homebound community members who do not receive home health services, once the group of people who are connected to home health agencies are vaccinated, the state will expand this service by reaching out through numerous state partners, including primary care, Agencies on Aging, and municipalities to identify people to include in the second phase of outreach. If you are not in the service of a home health agency, you may request an appointment by calling 802-863-7240 (toll-free 833-722-0860) Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

​What to expect at the appointment
All sites are handicap accessible. If you need someone to physically assist you at your appointment, that person will need to wear a mask and undergo the safety protocol listed below. You do not need to bring identification to the appointment. 

You will need to wear a mask during your appointment. If you do not have one, there will be one available for you at the clinic. If you have trouble breathing, are unable to remove it yourself, or have a medical reason for not wearing one, you will not be required to wear a mask.
​
Once you arrive at the vaccine clinic, here is what will happen:

1. Before you enter the clinic, someone will take your temperature and ask questions to determine if you have any current symptoms of COVID-19. If you do, then you will be asked to reschedule your appointment.
2. You will go inside and check in. You will be asked to fill out paperwork, which will include a health screening questionnaire.
3. You will be asked to go to a vaccination station where you will get the vaccine in your arm.
4. You will be given a handout with information about the vaccine you got and any possible side effects to watch out for, as well as how to report any reactions or side effects you may have.
5. Someone will then watch you for 15 to 30 minutes so you can be watched for any side effects.
6. Someone will help you schedule an appointment to get your second dose of vaccine at a later date.

Who is next in line to be vaccinated?
The state is vaccinating residents based on age bands. Residents age 16+ will be eligible as of April 19th. Because the vaccine has not been approved for those under age 16, at present there is no date on which  those under  age 16 can register to get a shot.

After the vaccination, can I go back to life as it was prior to the Covid-19 Virus?
The simple answer is no. Both of the vaccines currently available in Vermont require 2 shots some weeks apart, and even then time is needed after the second shot for your body to produce the anti-bodies that can protect you from the virus. During this time you should continue the practices of mask wearing and social distancing.

Even after this period, you should take steps to prevent COVID-19. This is because even if the vaccine protects you from illness, the state still does not have enough information on whether you could still transmit the virus to someone else. Even once the state does learn this, there are a number of things it needs to know before it can ease up on mask-wearing and physical distancing, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities.

What if I need transportation to a vaccine appointment?
Call Neighborhood Connections at 802.824.4343 Monday through Friday between 9:30-4:30 and we will see if we can set up transportation for you.

What if I have additional questions?
Additional information can be found on the state website including the types of vaccines available and safety information.

You can also call Neighborhood Connections. Volunteers can assist you in navigating the state website and finding answers to any questions based on information available from the state. Once the registration process is open to the public, volunteers can also assist you in signing up.

Covid-19 Testing

Who should be tested?
The Health Department recommends testing as soon as possible ​when:

• you have symptoms of Covid-19 (call your health provider first).
• you are referred by your health care provider
• a person in your workplace or household, or a person you attended an event with, tests positive for Covid-19.
• you plan on going to a social gathering with people you don't live with - other than recreating with one masked person outside). You should get tested before the gathering, right after, and again on day 7.

If you often gather socially with people you don't live with, you should get tested weekly.

College students returning to Vermont from out of state should quarantine and be tested on or after day 7 of quarantine after returning home.

Where can I get tested?
There are a variety of testing options, some which are free and some which may carry a fee.

​

Free Health Department Testing

The following is a list of free health department sites in Windsor, Windham and Bennington counties (including Rutland)  For the dates and times that tests are available at these sites, and for a full list of health department test sites statewide, click here.

Bennington  120 McKinley Street

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital  17 Belmont Ave 

Rutland Regional Medical Center  160 Allen St,

Springfield  51 Pearl Street, Level 1

Stratton Mountain Otis Clinic 78 Founders Hill Rd

To set up an appointment at a Health Department testing site:

• REGISTER HERE to get an account
• Receive an e-mail with your patient ID and use that to confirm your account (check your spam folder if you don't see the email)
• Log in with your patient ID
• Set up an appointment

Health Care Providers and Pharmacies
Mountain Valley Health Clinic   38 Vt 11, Londonderry, VT  05148    802.824.6901
     Appointment Required
Grace Cottage Hospital  185 Grafton Rd, Townsend, VT  05353   802.365.7357
     Appointment Required    

The state test site finder allows you to find a test site based on your zip code. Based on the Londonderry zip code (05148), the following are the test sites listed for Windsor, Windham, and Bennington counties as of January 15, 2021
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Manchester Medical Center-Urgent Care  34 Bonnet Street, Manchester Center, VT   802.768.1718
Appointment Required    Screening Required   Rapid Antigen and rt-PCR test available    PCR results in 45 minutes

Springfield Health Center   100 River Street, Springfield, VT  05156   802.886.8902
Appointment Required   Physician Order Required   Screening Required

ClearChoiceMD Brattleboro Urgent Care Clinic  1154 Puney Rd, Brattleboro, VT  05301  802.490.2100
Rapid Testing Results in 15 minutes   Non-Rapid Testing Results in 2-5 days   Screen Required   Antibody Testing Available
We recommend you pre-register and save your spot in line through our online registration portal

ClearChoiceMD Rutland Urgent Care Clinic 173 S. Main St, Rutland, VT  05701   802.772.4165
Rapid Testing Results in 15 minutes   Non-Rapid Testing Results in 2-5 days  Screening Required  Antibody Test Available
We recommend you pre-register and save your spot in line through our on-line registration portal

Vermont State/CIC Health Brattleboro  17 Belmont Ave, Brattleboro, VT  05301  802.863.7240
Appointment Required   Screening Required

Walgreens  476 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT  05301  802.254.5633
Appointment Required   Screening Required   Restrictions Apply

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center  100 Hospital Drive, Bennington, VT  05201  802.440-8844
Non-Rapid Testing Results in 2-3 days   Appointment Required   Physican Order Required   Screening Required
Antibody Testing Available     Physician's order or call for reservation
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What if I need transportation to a testing location?
Call Neighborhood Connections at 802.824.4343 Monday-Friday between 9:30 and 4:30 and we will see if transportation can be arranged for you.

What if I have additional questions?
​Additional information can be found on the state website.  You can also call Neighborhood Connections. Volunteers can assist you in navigating the state website, helping you to register for health department or private testing and finding answers to any questions based on information available from the state.