UPDATED 2/10/21 - VACCINATIONS FOR CAREGIVERS, SENIORS 75 YEARS & OLDER
75+ Caregiver Vaccination Eligibility
On February 1, the MA Dept. of Public Health (MA DPH) started vaccines for residents 75 years and older. These residents have been getting shots for the last 10 days, and during that time, the MA DPH has learned that some people might be hesitant to go to a mass vaccination location without a relative or a caregiver.
This following policy goes into effect on Thursday, February 11. It is not applicable for appointments that have already been booked.
To support more 75 years and older residents getting to a mass vax site, effective Thursday, February 11 a new policy takes effect that allows one caregiver to join a 75-plus resident and also schedule their own appointment for a vaccine at the same time. Any caregiver is eligible to receive the vaccine at the same time as the 75 and older resident, provided they have an appointment.
Caregivers will be required to self-attest that they are accompanying a 75-plus resident who could not otherwise get to or navigate the vaccination site when they fill out the attestation form (including the attestation form in PrepMod).
Appointments for 75-plus residents and their caregivers should be scheduled for the same day, as close together as possible. If both the caregiver and 75-plus resident are unable to use or have difficultly accessing the internet, they may call 2-1-1 for assistance booking both appointments.
We hope this change will encourage more 75 years and older residents to get their vaccines at mass vaccination sites—which have the most availability and are best suited to provide safe access for our older residents.
Please help get spread this news to caregivers and 75 years and older residents who may not be online.
Posted 2/9/21
Dear Members of the Sandisfield Community,
The Berkshire County Boards of Health Association is reporting that roughly 40-45% of those 75 and over in Berkshire County have now received their first shots, and roughly 8% of the total population (not including those living & working in long-term care or those vaccinated at Berkshire Health Systems or CHP who were vaccinated separately).
Please help us get the word out to members of the community who are 75 years and older that the vaccine is available and that registration to these clinics in Great Barrington, Pittsfield, and North Adams are still open.
Please see www.getvaccinatedberkshires.org for new clinics & for the link to make an appointment, or go directly to maimmunizations.org and scroll down looking for clinics at the three Berkshire County sites (Berkshire Community College, W.E.B. Dubois Middle School and St. Elizabeth's of Hungary Church).
Get vaccinated this week!
Sandisfield Board of Health