Local vaccine supply uncertain as more retail sites come online

Deliveries of the COVID-19 vaccine to local communities has slowed down in the last week as the state has begun to direct more of its supplies to pharmacy and grocery locations.

The town of Canton, in fact, received no new doses this week and officials are continuing to urge eligible residents to seek appointments elsewhere when possible. According to Fire Chief and Emergency Services Coordinator Charles Doody, “Additional vaccination sites like CVS in Randolph and Wegmans in Westwood — in addition to Gillette Stadium — have come online this week to offer vaccines.”

“If people are able, they should register for these sites,” he said.

Doody added, “The Mass. Department of Public Health and Governor Baker’s team have decided to put the vaccination in the hands of these large sites, pharmacies and grocery stores. Local communities are receiving less and less doses for first shots.”

In Canton, second-dose clinics for first responders were held last weekend with additional clinics scheduled for this week. As of late last week, nearly 70 percent of the Fire Department’s workforce has been vaccinated and Doody expects there will be additional firefighters who choose to get vaccinated as the program moves forward into the spring.

Currently, under the state’s vaccination plan, eligible recipients include anyone in phase 1 (health care workers, first responders, residents in long-term care facilities, nursing homes and congregate care facilities) as well as anyone age 75 years or older. The next group to be eligible, listed under part two of phase 2, includes residents age 65 and older and those with two or more comorbid conditions. Part three of phase 2 will include several other categories of workers, including educators and public works employees, and Doody anticipates they will begin to receive their vaccinations in March.

Doody said elderly residents who need assistance finding a vaccination clinic or registering for an appointment can call the Council on Aging at 781-828-1323. (They can also dial 211 for assistance scheduling an appointment.)

The COA is also assisting residents age 75 and older who need transportation to a vaccination site, and the CFD has mobilized a team that will be vaccinating homebound elderly residents in their homes. All others who have questions about the vaccination phasing plan can call the Canton COVID Hotline at 339-502-5715.

In other news, Doody said the governor’s plan to offer vaccinations to those who accompany a person age 75 or older only applies to mass vaccination sites like Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park and will not be an option at local clinics.

In addition to providing vaccination information through a dedicated hotline, the town has also posted a transcript of the questions and answers covered during the February 4 public webinar. The full transcript can be accessed at town.canton.ma.us/801/7460/Coronavirus-Information.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Feb 19 2021. Filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.