RI Legislators Voice Outrage About Line-Jumping Insiders, and State’s Failed Vaccination Program

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

GoLocalProv News Team

 

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Legislators voice outrage over failed vaccination program

Members of the Rhode Island General Assembly are voicing disappointment and outrage over the state's failed vaccination program.

There continues to be frustration about wealthy non-medical board members at Lifespan and Care New England receiving vaccinations while Rhode Island's elderly and those with multiple pre-existing health issues have not.

Rhode Island is once again ranked as the state with the most infection, according to the New York Times on Tuesday.

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Representative Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence), said Tuesday, “Privilege has once again reared its ugly head in Rhode Island where protected individuals of prosperity can cut the line for a life-protecting medicine while the most vulnerable and the most affected residents of Rhode Island are told to be quiet and wait your turn.  The excuses being offered, as always, point fingers of blame at others – it’s Trump’s fault, it’s federal guidelines, it’s the state’s guidelines – yet, when all is said and done, the leaders of these so-called institutions of public health cut the line, skirted the regulations of Phase One, and decided that their health, safety and their families were more important than those who are actually suffering from this pandemic,”

“I call on the boards of both Lifespan and Care New England to explain themselves and to immediately halt giving our small supply of this crucial vaccine to people who do not immediately need it.  Contact these boards of directors and let them know how you feel about being cut in line for the COVID-19 vaccine,” added Williams.

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Rep. Anastasia Williams

“The most vulnerable people of Rhode Island are not vaccinated, not informed, scared and in desperate need of transparency," she added. "It is quite apparent that the original vaccine plan was severely lacking in details, planning and awareness and it is causing further undue stress and fear for far too many of our residents.  It is time that our leaders get their act together because too many people are still dying and our state is crying out for true leadership."

“The people that are truly suffering are unable to work from home, or have virtual meetings, or isolate from their patrons, coworkers or family members who have contracted this virus.  These are the true heroes and front-line workers of the COVID-19 pandemic – the individuals working at our grocery stores or the delivery drivers, factory workers, custodians, actual front-line health care workers, public safety and everyone else who wasn’t fortunate enough to be able to lock down in their homes over the course of this past year and who are still currently without that privilege,”said Williams.

Last week, Deputy Speaker Charlene Lima announced she is introducing legislation to, in some cases, criminalize line jumping.

And, former Rhode Island Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine said, “I really think the Attorney General should use the power vested in him in the oversight of nonprofits to move against their nonprofit status. I don't think we should play games like this -- this is a pandemic and a time of a great sort of social instability."

Lima who represents District 14 (Cranston and Providence) spoke with GoLocal even before she had legislation drafted. The bill, now introduced, will make it a felony punishable up to 3 years imprisonment for any individual, business entity, employees and owners to knowingly administer any vaccine to anyone not eligible under state-issued Phase guidelines.

“It would also make it a misdemeanor for any individual who allows themselves to be vaccinated with knowledge that they are not eligible,” said Lima.

“The excuse that because of no-shows they had extra vaccines that might spoil is nothing more than a dishonest way to get around the Phase guidelines and make life saving vaccines available to the politically connected,” said Lima.

 

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Representative Justine Caldwell

Broken Program

Representative Justine Caldwell is also voicing frustration with the state’s vaccine program.

“Immunizing our population against the disease -- our state’s communication has not measured up. We’re in the midst of multiple transitions — to a new governor and new federal administration — but Rhode Islanders, exhausted from nearly a year of having their lives upended, must not be made to wait for more information about how we are going to end this pandemic,” said Caldwell, who represents District 30 (East Greenwich, West Greenwich).

Caldwell said, “Hearing that board members of powerful hospitals are higher on the priority list than they or their elderly relatives are is severely undermining trust in our response, especially in the absence of clear information about who is being prioritized and why. Images of municipal leaders receiving the vaccine when front-line workers have not have made people think who you are is more important than what you need.”

“My mother-in-law in Tennessee just got her second dose, and she doesn’t live in a congregate care setting. One of my constituents asked his at-risk child’s doctor when he might receive his vaccination, and his doctor didn’t know. Would he be able to have it earlier because he’s at risk, or would he wait until people in his age cohort are eligible? We don’t know. Even doctors don’t know,” said Caldwell. “My grandparents, who are both over 85, don’t know when they can be vaccinated, or how they are going to find out — and both of them are well-informed, engaged citizens. We’re facing a crisis of communication about the biggest community challenge of our time.”

 

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Lt. Governor Dan McKee

McKee's Proposal Criticized

Rep. Gregory Costantino (D-Dist. 44, Lincoln, Smithfield, Johnston) is criticizing a proposal by Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee that members of the General Assembly should be given priority in receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.

“I would much rather see my shot go to an elderly person,” said Costantino, while urging his colleagues in the House and Senate to do the same. “Except for those legislators who are elderly or vulnerable because they are medically compromised, I would much rather see those shots go to the elderly in the state — and I would like to see the future governor adopt that as official policy.”

McKee will assume the governorship in the next couple of weeks if sitting Governor Gina Raimondo is confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as President Joe Biden's Secretary of Commerce.

Her confirmation hearing was held on Tuesday.

 

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