Mayor Charles C. Kokoros would like to share with the community an update on the Town of Braintree's distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible residents.
Braintree's first responders and health care workers began to receive their vaccinations on January 11th in accordance with the state's vaccine distribution timeline. Second dose clinics for first responders and health care workers began the week of February 8th and will be completed this week.
The Town also began vaccinating residents who are 75 years of age and older who became eligible in Phase Two of the state’s vaccine distribution plan on February 6th. Initial clinics for residents age 75 and older were held in the auditorium at the Braintree Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 6th and Saturday, February 13th resulting in a total 765 vaccinations. On site vaccinations are being administered by Braintree Public Health and Public School nurses. Thanks to the hard work of our Health Department and all of Mayor Kokoros’ staff the Town has now vaccinated 1,205 people with their first dose.
The Town has partnered with Brewster Ambulance Service to offer additional vaccine for our residents. Brewster supplied the vaccine doses for the February 6 clinic and has vaccinated staff and residents in local senior housing facilities.
"I'd like to thank our Braintree Public Health and Public School nurses and Brewster Ambulance Service, for their work administering the vaccines safely and efficiently, as well as our staff from numerous departments who have helped to make these clinics a success," Mayor Kokoros said. "We are pleased to be able to offer vaccination clinics for our eligible residents at Braintree Town Hall, which is a local and convenient option for residents to receive both doses of the vaccine, and we will continue to hold vaccine clinics as long as doses are made available to us."
Earlier today Governor Baker announced that individuals age 65 or older, individuals with two or more specific medical conditions, and residents and staff of public and private low income and affordable senior housing will be eligible to receive the vaccine on February 18th. Governor Baker also announced that, effective the week of March 1st, the state will no longer be providing first dose vaccines for individual municipal clinics, including those being held in Braintree.
Braintree did not receive a shipment of vaccination doses this week; however, we will continue to prioritize our seniors, 75 and older, in the event that we receive additional vaccine before the end of February. Additionally, Braintree will continue its partnership with Brewster Ambulance Service to host local clinics for our residents with all available vaccine doses. “I am disappointed that the state will no longer be providing the Town with vaccine for our local residents as the Braintree Health Department, my staff and I have invested countless hours to make it possible to vaccinate our most vulnerable population. However, in collaboration with Brewster Ambulance Service we will continue to offer our residents a local option for vaccination to the greatest extent possible,” said Mayor Kokoros.
Residents who have signed up for the Vaccination Appointment Registry will remain on the list and appointments will be scheduled as vaccine becomes available. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to consider other alternatives for vaccination including primary care offices, local pharmacies or one of the state mass vaccination sites. For additional information on local and regional vaccination sites, click here.