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Date: 3/23/2021
EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton Board of Health is currently compiling a list of homebound residents throughout the city who cannot leave the house to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
A homebound resident is an individual who “is not able to leave their home to get to a vaccination site without significant assistance.” According to a release sent out by the city’s Board of Health, these individuals either require an ambulance or two-person assistance to leave their home; are not able to leave home for medical appointments under normal circumstances; or have considerable difficulty leaving the home for medical appointments.
The state of Massachusetts begun constructing a program that will help get vaccines out to those homebound residents by developing ways in which local health boards can be trusted partners in the vaccination process. According to their vaccine delivery plan, the state also plans on leveraging the expertise of local officials to focus efforts around outreach to vulnerable, hard-to-reach populations.
Brianna Eichstaedt, the public health director for Easthampton, said the homebound vaccine program could either be spearheaded by the state or a regional location-it is all dependent on what the city chooses.
“We have so far chosen to go with the state because we’ve only identified 11 people,” she said, with regard to how many homebound residents have reached out to the health department.
Despite the low number of residents so far, Eichstaedt did not eliminate the possibility of including Easthampton in a regional program for homebound residents. She told Reminder Publishing that Amherst reached out to the city asking if they would be willing to participate in a regional program if Amherst spearheads it. Other cities in the area could be involved as well, according to Eichstaedt.
“I’m definitely open to that as well,” she said. “A lot of times, being able to handle things locally, it’s sometimes easier, and people prefer it.”
If Easthampton does decide to go with the state’s program, then Eichstaedt will have to refer their list of homebound residents to the state specifically, and then the state would use their own mobile units to travel around and administer the vaccine to these residents.
So far, the city’s Board of Health has reached out to Highland Valley Elder Services and the Easthampton Council on Aging to see if they carry any eligible residents. “I think there’s more people that are not accounted for, so we’re trying to get the word out,” she said.
According to Eichstaedt, the state provides an interview tool that cities can use when they are trying to determine who is homebound and who is not. Residents are not considered homebound if they can access a vaccination site with transportation support, even if they prefer in-home vaccination. Individuals are not considered homebound if they also are temporarily homebound or if they reside in a long-term care facility.
“We use that little interview tool over the phone and get their information,” said Eichstaedt. “We’ll have it ready for when the state is ready to start their project, or if Amherst wants to do a regional thing.”
Eichstaedt added that it could be any time now before more information is released about the state homebound vaccine program. There still could be a couple weeks of waiting, even when the program officially gets going.
“Whoever wants to get vaccinated, should be able to get vaccinated,” said Eichstaedt. “I think it’s important for us to help this demographic in getting the vaccine because they might want to see family, and they need to be protected.”
Those who know someone homebound in Easthampton should reach out to the city’s Board of Health by emailing health@easthamptonma.gov, or by calling 529-1400, ext. 430. As of press time, Easthampton is only compiling the list at the moment. More information about when these vaccines could be administered will come out soon.