Dr. Lawrence Rothfield, former chair of the Department of Microbiology and founding faculty of UConn Medical School, became the first of more than 250 residents at Duncaster, an independent Living facility in Bloomfield, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I know some people are worried about taking the vaccine, but the data are very clear,” said Rothfield, who was a microbiology researcher for 50 years and is a professor emeritus of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at UConn Medical School. “This vaccine is remarkably successful in protecting against serious life-threatening disease. It’s also clear that significant side-effects are extremely rare. Everyone should be vaccinated unless his/her physician advises against it. This will protect the vaccinated individual from contracting COVID-19 and prevent the further spread of this deadly disease. 

“For the first time since the pandemic began, we have a reason to be optimistic. If, for example, 85-90% of the residents of a town chose to be vaccinated, the disease should then begin to be increasingly well contained within the community,” he added.