Town officials cautiously hopeful with rollout of COVID-19 vaccine

For the first time in its ongoing series of public health webinars, Canton health officials and town leaders expressed hope for a return to normalcy in 2021 as the state embarks on a phased delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Select Board member Lisa Lopez opened the December 30 webinar by noting, “We can finally start planning again, or at least we can plan to plan, since we don’t know for sure when things will be back to normal. But we do know that we will get there, and that is the emotional and psychological boost that we all need.”

Lopez added that residents should stay strong and vigilant and continue to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. “Even though the end is in sight, this is not the time to become casual,” she said.

Most of the hour-long webinar focused on the town’s plans to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. The first phase of the state’s vaccine plan is currently underway and is expected to continue until February. Phase 1 covers, in order of priority, clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care; long-term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities; first responders; congregate care settings, including corrections facilities and shelters; home-based health care workers; and health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care.

Fire Chief and Emergency Services Coordinator Charles Doody said first responders are expected to be vaccinated beginning on January 11.

Phase 2 of the vaccine plan, projected to run from February to April, would cover, in order of priority: individuals with two or more co-morbid conditions (diabetes, heart conditions) or anyone 75 and older; employees in early education, K-12 education, grocery stores, utilities, food and agriculture businesses, sanitation, public works and public health; adults 65 and older; and individuals with one co-morbidity.

The general public would then be eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 3, which is projected to run from April to June. It is during this period that the town intends to hold public vaccination clinics — similar to the flu vaccine clinics held earlier this winter but on a larger scale and potentially involving a drive-through model.

To conduct these public clinics, Public Health Director Barbara Reardon and Doody said they would enlist the help of the Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens, urgent care centers, Police, Fire and EMS workers, and other health volunteers.

Doody said the town would notify the public of vaccination clinics through a variety of communication channels, including Reverse 911 calls, announcements in local newspapers, posts on the town website and social media accounts, and through future webinars.

Those who are eligible to receive the vaccine prior to phase 3 should contact their primary care provider or a local CVS, Walgreens, or urgent care center.

Both COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved for emergency use — one developed by Pfizer and one by Massachusetts-based Moderna — require two shots, administered within 21-30 days of each other. The shots are free, but any medical treatment beyond the shots would incur a cost …

See this week’s Citizen for more highlights from the December 30 COVID webinar. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Jan 8 2021. Filed under News, Police & Fire, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.