At Children’s Friend, we continue to prioritize the safety of our clients and staff.  Clients receive home visits as needed and in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and RI Department of Health guidelines. Children on-site, in our classrooms, continue to remain in stable pods with their stable teaching team. We have begun to see a rollout of the vaccine available in the communities we serve and we are collaborating with community partners and RI state agencies to ensure that our clients and staff can access the vaccine in accordance with our state’s eligibility requirements.

Due to the state’s prioritization of Central Falls residents and employees, we have begun to work to distribute vaccines to our staff that are currently on-site at our Dexter Street location or providing home-based visits in the community.  We are also working with the Department of Health and the Department of Children Youth and Families to extend vaccine distribution to our home visitors providing face-to-face services.

We continue to educate our staff and clients regarding the safety and efficacy of the approved COVID vaccines.  Below are some of the frequently asked questions according to the CDC:

  • Is the COVID-19 Vaccine safe?

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines, and these vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

  • Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

  • If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, a vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had a COVID-19 infection.

Stay safe, stay well, and stay informed.


Dana Mulllen, Chief of Programs