Norwich — Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz thanked municipal leaders, senior centers and health centers, such as United Community and Family Services, for the state’s top ranking in vaccinating eligible residents and third-place status in testing for COVID-19 infections.

During a visit to the UCFS health center at 47 Town St. on Wednesday, Bysiewicz said 338,859 Connecticut residents had received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday, and 86,285 had received second doses. Statewide, 45% of residents age 75 and over have received at least their first dose.

“We are very excited to be the best vaccinated state in the country," Bysiewicz said, "and the third top testing state in the country, which is also really critical to keeping people safe and healthy.”

In Norwich, Bysiewicz reported that 2,857 people, or 7.3% of the city’s 38,768 residents, and 32% of the city’s residents 75 and older have received at least their first dose.

“We have to roll out this infrastructure,” she said of expanding vaccinations. “We could easily, with the UCFSes of the world, be able to do more than 150,000 vaccinations a week. We just don’t have the supply.”

Mayor Peter Nystrom credited the strong partnership between the city and its health services agencies, including Uncas Health District, UCFS, the Backus Hospital and private entities for a smooth rollout of vaccines. The Rose City Senior Center holds vaccine clinics through Uncas Health District twice a week, with volunteers, senior center staff and school staff helping seniors navigate the confusing computer registration system.

Nystrom cited the cooperative network of agencies and volunteers for the lack of calls to his office by people confused about how to register or where and when people can sign up for COVID-19 vaccines.

Bysiewicz on Wednesday walked through the UCFS vaccination process that starts with initial and double-checked screening and continues to the vaccine station, where a sign asking patients not to talk to the vaccine nurse as she carefully measures doses, tracks the timing of the sensitive vaccine material from freezer to refrigerator to single-dose extraction. Most patients don’t feel the thin, super sharp needle, UCFS Director of Nursing Nancy Holte said.

After the shot, patients remain in the observation room for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on their health records. Each patient leaves with a reservation for the required second dose of the Moderna vaccine. Of the more than 1,200 vaccines given at UCFS, only two patients have had bad reactions to the shot, Holte said. Nurses have medications ready for possible serious reactions.

“We were ready,” Holte said. “The nurses were ready. They did the observation. We had 911 here, emergent care. They left safely appropriately, and they’re doing very well.”

The UCFS vaccine clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday mornings for second dose only shots, UCFS President and CEO Jennifer Granger said.

Granger said all COVID-19 vaccines are free. UCFS collects health insurance information from patients for possible billing for the $12 administration fee. Patients are not billed for any charges, she said.

As Granger explained UCFS’ program, several uniformed Connecticut National Guard troops arrived at the health center to start vaccine assistance training. National Guard troops already have been working with UCFS on its COVID-19 testing station behind the building.

“It’s going to take this continued collaboration of our state and municipal partners and hospitals and community health centers and nonprofits to get this done. All of those partnerships we put together for testing, you can see are paying benefits right now, because it’s why we are a state with one of the highest vaccinations, the highest vaccinations,” she said.

c.bessette@theday.com