After meeting with Lt. Gov. Dan McKee and municipal leaders in a Zoom call Monday, Mayor Frank Picozzi announced Wednesday initiation of a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list.

By logging on to www.warwickri.gov/vaccine residents can join the waiting list to later schedule a vaccination as well as learn some basic information about the vaccine.

According to a press release from the Mayor’s office, once the vaccine is more available later this month, residents will receive an email with another link where they can start the registration process to set up an appointment. Following a directive from the Department of Health, doses will be distributed from oldest to youngest in this specific age group.

A call will go out to residents who have registered with Code Red letting them know about the waiting list. If a resident isn’t signed up for the Code Red phone calls, they can do so on the city’s website or by calling (401) 738-2004.

Mayor Picozzi assured residents that there is no rush to sign up for the waiting list, as the city is still hasn’t received a set schedule on the next rollout of the vaccine.

The waitlist went live around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, and by noon, more than 1,000 residents signed up.

On Monday McKee met via Zoom with municipal leaders, to discuss economic recovery and vaccination plans. According to a press release regarding the virtual meeting, “the Incoming Governor indicated that he would regularly convene and connect with municipal leaders throughout the pandemic and the economic recovery to follow. He stressed the importance of ensuring municipal leaders have a seat at the table and are briefed on the state’s vaccination plan and strategies to safely reopen schools and businesses.”

In an interview Tuesday, Mayor Picozzi said he, and other municipal leaders, are “adamant” about using their own local sites for vaccine administration rather than regional sites like the Swift Community Center in East Greenwich, where vaccinations were given to Warwick residents aged 75 and older on Wednesday. A total of 390 residents were scheduled to receive the vaccination Wednesday. They were the first to call when the city announced on Thursday that it would have 390 doses available. Roughly 8,000 residents in Warwick are over 75, about 10 percent of the city’s population.

During the meeting Monday, McKee also noted the need for municipalities and the Rhode Island Department of Health to work as a team to get as many shots in arms as quickly and safely as possible. He highlighted his goal of “leveraging the public health and municipal expertise of all participants to ensure vaccine distribution is swift, safe, and efficient at the community level.”

At Wednesday’s clinic were Roberta Carlson and her husband, Ed, who see the vaccine as “a token of good luck,” according to Roberta.

“We’ve been waiting for this since March,” she said while joining a line that stretched the length of the building. “I cried when I got the phone call.”

Thankfully, the Carlsons avoided the snow, but Roberta said they’d be here, “even if we have to walk in snowshoes.”

Once fully vaccinated, the Carlsons are looking forward to finally meeting their grandson, who was born last June and has yet to meet his grandparents.

Indulata Jayapal isn’t concerned about the vaccine. In fact, she has “no hesitations”.

“I want it very badly, we need it,” she said in an interview as she waited for her turn to get vaccinated.

Jayanthi Jayapal, her daughter accompanying her in line is “very happy” about her mom’s vaccination. While she doesn’t expect to be vaccinated anytime soon, Jayanthi is “grateful that it’s going to more important places like those folks that need it.”

Mayor Picozzi said he was “thankful” those seniors were vaccinated this week, but he is looking forward to moving vaccine clinics to Warwick, potentially utilizing school buildings as sites, making the process more accessible for residents.

“McKee agrees that cities can do better on our own,” he said during the interview. “As soon as we formulate a plan, we’ll get the info out.”

While Mayor Picozzi and other municipal leaders do have to wait for direction from the Department of Health, Warwick expects to receive approximately 500 doses of the vaccine each week for four weeks, starting Feb. 14. Picozzi said the Department of Health should provide the city with an update by Friday.