Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced individuals ages 65 and over and those with 2+ certain medical conditions, including Asthma, can visit www.mass.gov/covidvaccine to start booking an appointment for vaccine beginning tomorrow, February 18th.
Due to extremely high demand for appointments and limited vaccine supply, it could take more than a month for all eligible individuals to secure an available appointment, unless federal supply significantly increases. Recently, Massachusetts has been receiving approximately 110,000 first doses per week from the federal government. Residents are encouraged to keep checking the website as appointments are added on a rolling basis.
Individuals 65 and over:
Individuals 65 and over, including residents and staff of low income and affordable public and private senior housing are eligible to receive vaccine effective tomorrow, February 18th.
Individuals with 2+ Certain Medical Conditions:
Individuals 16 and older with two or more of certain medical conditions (defined below) are eligible for vaccine, effective tomorrow.
In concert with CDC guidelines, the Commonwealth has adopted the list of conditions that cause individuals to be at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Massachusetts has also identified moderate to severe asthma as an eligible medical condition.
Phase 2 eligible conditions are as follows:
Asthma (moderate-to-severe), Cancer, Chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Down Syndrome, Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies), Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher), Pregnancy, Sickle cell disease, Smoking, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus
If you are 65+, you may contact the Great Barrington Senior Center (413 528-1881) or Sheffield Senior Center (413 229-7037). If no appointments are available, ask if they will put your name on a waiting list and call you when appointments open. You may wish to use the 211 telephone line, but you have to be patient with this as well. They are handling thousands of calls and the menu-system is time-consuming.
BE PATIENT. Keep trying on line, slots will be open as vaccine becomes available. The weather has impacted deliveries across the country and this is a very large group opening up. Everyone will get the necessary vaccinations, but it may take time for the vaccine deliveries to open up. More vaccine is being produced and supplies will get more plentiful.
We will do our best to keep you informed. Keep checking our Town Website and Town email. If you are not getting the emails, please contact Loes at elem@townofmtwashington.com and ask to be put on the email list.