Walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations offered at Providence, Cranston sites on Friday and Saturday

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – Rhode Island is piloting walk-up vaccinations for two days this week, as the state’s supply is currently outweighing demand.

Two of the state-run mass vaccination sites will offer the walk-up vaccinations on Friday, April 23, and Saturday, April 24.

The Dunkin Donuts Center POD in Providence and the Sockanosett POD in Cranston at 100 Sockanosset Cross Road will be open to anyone aged 16 and older to walk in and get a vaccine.

“We are signing people up at a similar rate to what we’ve seen over the past few weeks,” said Thomas McCarthy, executive director of Rhode Island’s COVID-19 response said Thursday. “But we’ve never had more vaccine available in [Rhode Island] than we’ve had this week. So that’s part of what gives us the extra flexibility to offer that walk-up availability.”

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At the Sockanosset POD on Friday, ABC6 spoke to several people who took advantage of the walk-up option.

“I just literally got a text from my mom and she said there’s a walk-in at 100 Sockanossett Cross Road mass site for Pfizer vaccine and I was like no way! So I literally just like drove here from home,” said John Cruz of Johnston.

“My mom told us, yeah, she told us, we were like ok! And now we don’t have to make an appointment or anything so that’s great,” said Evelyn Torres of Cranston. “Oh, it’s so easy, like, especially now since there’s not really a line, so, it was just so easy to go in.”

The Dunk’ POD will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Sockanosset POD will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days.

Rhode Island health officials still encourage you to make an appointment for the vaccine to secure a spot.

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