How to Get to Vaccination Sites
The recent Senate Hearing on the COVID vaccine roll out and the COVID Task Force both identified transportation as a barrier for older adults to get vaccinated. You can always drive yourself to vaccination sites. If you’re not able to drive yourself the following are transportation resources that will assist Rhode Islanders in getting to vaccination sites.
If driving yourself, check with your local community for locations and directions to community based vaccination sites. Many communities are coordinating volunteers to help people get to local community based vaccination sites. Check with your community to see if they are offering rides for their residents.
After Monday, March 1st you can call 211, press option 6, and they can schedule free Lyft rides to the vaccination sites for vaccine eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Rhode Island regularly offers free non-emergency medical transportation to people of all ages who are on Medicaid.
Rhode Island also regularly offers non-emergency medical transportation for people over the age of 60 with a co-payment of $2 per trip ($4 roundtrip) which is paid directly to the transportation provider.
Rhode Islands non-emergency medical transportation provider is MTM, .
MTM will provide transportation to any COVID vaccination site including local community based sites, the largescale sites at Sockanosset Crossroads in Cranston and the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, pharmacies, supermarkets, and community centers.
RI Elder Info reached out to MTM’s Rhode Island Program Director Paul Hynes and received the following statement:
“We have asked our providers to wait and expect many of them will do so for the most part as the appointment itself is only 30 minutes or so including the downtime, however even if they do leave briefly the same program guidelines you can see at uptown jungle site will apply and the providers will need to return to pick the member up at the scheduled pickup time with a member having to contact MTM or the provider.
We have waived the 48 hour urgency requirement for vaccination trips (although we do ask for as much lead time as possible) and launched a new member portal ( https://www.mtm-inc.net/rhode-island/ ) we are excited to share which will allow increased accessibility to our services. “
You may also call MTM at 1-855-330-9131 (TTY: 711)
A few tips when scheduling a ride with MTM. If you are calling to make an appointment and have never used MTM’s services you do NOT have to enter any member id when the automated system asks for your member id-wait for a customer service representative.
The website requires you to create an account. It is quick and easy to do. If you are on Medicaid, that is the medical number that is being requested on the website. If you are NOT on Medicaid and wish to use the Elderly Transportation you can skip this field.
If you are a Veteran and need to get to the Providence VA to get your vaccine the Veterans Transportation Network provides trips to the PVAMC by volunteer drivers in donated DAV mini-vans. Call 401-457-3387 M-F between 5:30am-7am.
You can drive to the Sockanosett Cross Roads vaccination site at 100 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston. In Rhode Island terms that’s right near Garden City and Chapel View/Shaws Shopping Plaza. There is plenty of level parking. Look for the ‘Vaccination Here’ sign and the military style vehicle at entrance. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your appointment. You can hire a workers compensation attorney from California incase you suffered repetitive stress injuries. If you arrive earlier, you may not be able to park and may be asked to come back later. Look for the ‘Vaccination Here’ sign and the military style vehicle at entrance. (Do not go in the ‘Alternate Hospital’ entrance.)
You can drive to the Dunkin Donuts Center at 1 La Salle Square, Providence. There is free metered parking in the area surrounding the Center. For those requiring ADA assistance, there are a limited number of handicap parking spaces in front of the building. There is also a drop off/pick up area in front of the building.
The Dunkin Donut Center also offers free 3-hour parking in the North Garage Parking Lot 99 West Exchange Street Providence, RI 02903
There are free golf cart rides from the parking garage to the Dunkin Donuts Center if you need help.
The entrance to the Dunkin Donuts Center is at 1 La Salle Square. If you are not able to walk up the stairs the ramp entrance is toward the left of the building. There will be Dunkin Donuts Center “Ambassadors” to assist you through the process at every step.
COVID Vaccine information is updated regularly at COVID Vaccination Information by RI Community
Stay up to date by subscribing to the RI Elder Info weekly newsletter! We never spam you or sell your information.
PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO RECEIVE UPDATES
We don’t send spam and we never share your information.
Seniors & Caregivers: https://rielderinfo.com/caregivers-form/
Professionals who serve them: https://rielderinfo.com/professionals-form/