Legislators urge more vaccination sites hereDate: 1/27/2021 WESTERN MASS. – Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Jan. 25 more details about the commonwealth’s vaccination plans, including a vaccination site at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield.
The announcement came after much of the region’s legislative delegation had signed a letter addressed to him highlighting the fact that only two vaccination sites for COVID-19 have been identified in Hampden County.
The Eastfield Mall site will open on Jan. 29, according to the governor’s press office.
At the press conference, Baker said by mid-February there will be 165 public vaccinations sites across the commonwealth.
The legislators wrote, “Though we appreciate the logistical challenges in boosting capacity and expanding vaccination sites, it seems a Herculean task for Hampden County to logistically handle vaccinations for the 75 and older population alone once Phase Two begins, according to your timeline, as early as next month. Moreover, while you touted in your January 19, 2021 press release, ‘the expansion of more vaccine locations in each region of the commonwealth at pharmacies,’ not one of the 15 new locations were located in Hampden County.”
The letter continued, “With nearly 34,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,144 related deaths, Hampden County has been the third-hardest-hit region, right behind Essex and Bristol Counties, during the pandemic. This county is one of the poorest in Massachusetts and has the second-highest percentage of people of color in the state – just over a third of its population. What’s more, Springfield was named the “Asthma Capital of the United States” in 2019 by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, a pre-existing condition that can turn minor symptoms of the coronavirus into life-threatening ones. Fair and equitable access to vaccines in the regions, like ours, that need it most will save countless lives.
“We feel strongly that there is an urgent need for increased coordination and preparation in Hampden County if we are to successfully meet the needs of our constituents during Phase Two and beyond. To that end, we respectfully request an initial update for the Hampden County delegation regarding the implementation and coordination of vaccine distribution for Phase Two, especially for individuals age 75 and older.”
The members of the delegation endorsing the letter included Eric Lesser, Adam Gomez, Anne M. Gobi, Adam G. Hinds, John C. Velis, Brian M. Ashe, Nicholas A. Boldyga, Patricia A. Duffy, Carlos Gonza´lez, Jacob R. Oliveira, Kelly W. Pease and Todd M. Smola.
Looking at the current map for vaccination sites in Hampden County, there is one in Springfield, Mercy Medical Center and the Baystate Health facility on Whitney Ave. in Holyoke. The public is asked to go to mass.gov/COVIDVaccineMap to check on newly added vaccination locations.
According to the state’s website on vaccinations, (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/when-can-i-get-the-covid-19-vaccine#phase-1-), Phase One of Baker’s plan has vaccinations from December 2020 through February 2021 planned for clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care; long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities; congregate care settings; emergency medical services, police, and fire; and health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care.
Phase Two has been amended to include individuals age 65 and up or two-plus comorbidities (high risk for COVID-19 complications), individuals age 75-plus, and early education and K-12 workers, transit, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works, and public health workers, and individuals with one comorbidity beginning Feb. 1.
The final phase would begin in April and that would be for the general public.
In a State House News Service report by Michel P. Norton, the president of the senate, Karen Spilka, said, “We’ve all suffered greatly I believe across the country because there has not been a coordinated national effort on COVID-19, the pandemic, or the vaccine strategy, and states have largely had to fend on their own.”
She added, “We are hearing from people not knowing when they are in line for vaccines. They hear that their relative or friend from some other area within the state – 65 and above –were able to get their first vaccination. They’re being told they are not ready yet. It's not their turn. They don’t understand why.”
A spokesperson for the governor, Sarah Finlaw, responded to Spilka’s statements, “Massachusetts’ COVID vaccine advisory group, made up of leading infectious disease doctors, national leaders in public health and the Senate's lead member for healthcare policy, developed the phased plan to prioritize life preservation and ensure distribution of vaccines to people of color and other vulnerable populations that have experienced the most severe impacts of COVID.”
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