McKee hopes to tap cities, towns to expand vaccinations

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Dan McKee on Friday said he wants cities and towns to become more involved in the COVID-19 vaccination effort to help speed up distribution once more shots become available.

McKee said he hopes to expand the state’s capacity to get shots in arms after he takes over from Gov. Gina Raimondo, the Providence Journal reports. Cities and towns “are going to be a big part of that,” McKee said in a virtual meeting with his COVID-19 advisers.

“We need to use our communities to create this 9/11 moment where we bring people together in a way that we are rallying around an enemy, and the COVID is the enemy, and we are going to beat that enemy,” McKee said.

The Democrat did not provide more detail about his plans for cities and towns, but he said he will continue to use state vaccination sites created under the Raimondo administration. McKee has been critical of the state’s vaccination efforts, which he said are moving too slow.

Raimondo is leaving her post after being chosen by President Joe Biden to lead the Commerce Department.