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| Cape Cod Times
On paper, Massachusetts residents aged 75 and over can be vaccinated against COVID-19 starting Monday.
But Barnstable County officials said limited supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine and a remaining phase 1 backlog mean the majority of priority elderly residents in phase two will likely have to wait to make an appointment locally.
“Our policy is to register eligible candidates when we have their fill in hand,” county officials said in a statement Wednesday. “Therefore, we will not immediately make an appointment for our residents aged 75 and over.”
Barnstable County spokeswoman Sonja Sheasley said county officials should have more information today on the administration of vaccines.
“Looks like we’re getting it very soon,” she said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon.
The uncertainty surrounding the current stage of the three-stage vaccine rollout is frustrating older people who were hoping to at least be able to plan their first vaccines now.
“It’s hard to understand how it went so badly,” said Karen Boucher, 76, of Eastham.
The retired nurse said friends of her age in Connecticut and Florida had already received an injection. “It’s confusing,” she said.
Barnstable County officials on Wednesday announced a change in how people will register for phase two clinics.
More: When can you expect to get the COVID-19 vaccine on Cape Cod?
They originally planned to provide a link to the state’s PrepMod planning tool on their website on Monday. for people in phase two. People aged 75 and over are the top priority in phase two, followed by people aged 65 and over and those with two or more co-morbidities, essential workers and people with co-morbidities.
But Sheasley said Wednesday that Barnstable County is now asking residents to access an interactive vaccination site status map (mass.gov/COVIDVaccineMap) for a list of vaccination locations provided by public and private agencies. across the state, as well as links to registration forms.
The map currently lists seven vaccination sites on Cape Cod under the title of Phase One. One of them – a regional clinic being held at the Orléans Public Works Department this week – is already booked with people still in phase one, including dentists, dental hygienists and mental health counselors .
County officials said they were ready to open five regional clinics in phase two. But they said they needed the vaccine first.
Other vaccination sites listed for Cape Town are Walgreens in Mashpee and Hyannis, CVS on Station Avenue in South Yarmouth, and Stop & Shop in Hyannis, Harwich and Orleans.
“Pharmacies and grocery stores have partnered with the Commonwealth and will also begin distributing Phase 2 vaccines,” the county statement said. “The ability of these sites to advertise clinics or schedule appointments depends on vaccine availability. If the vaccine has not yet been received or reconstituted, providers are not able to make appointments. “
“What good is adding sites if it adds to chaos and discontent?” Carol Rawlins, of Brewster, asked. She said she filled out a three-page online form at a local pharmacy to make an appointment after Monday for people 75 and over in phase two.
“The return is that they are not ready for vaccine delivery,” she wrote in an email to The Times.
More: Cape Cod Healthcare CEO says staff vaccinations are making a difference
Paula Finkle, of Marstons Mills, quoted in a Times article on Sunday, said on Wednesday that she got up at 3 a.m. signing up for the shot at a local pharmacy, believing she would have a better chance of getting an appointment when few other people were online.
“It didn’t work,” Finkle said.
The 79-year-old retired publicity manager had some good news to share hours later.
She said that by 5 p.m. Wednesday, she was able to make appointments at the Walgreens site for a first shot on Saturday and a second shot scheduled for February 27.
“I’m thrilled with all of this,” Finkle said in an email.
CVS spokeswoman Tara Burke said South Yarmouth CVS on Station Avenue offers the vaccine to people over 75 years old.
If people can’t get a date, it “means they’re all booked.” They reserve seven days, ”said Burke.
Rawlins and Finkle are not alone in their frustration.
Barnstable County’s COVID-19 hotline has received 7,500 calls since its inception from Jan. 19 to Tuesday, “and these were largely from elderly residents, with the impression that they could sign up immediately for a vaccine in Cape Cod, ”Bethany Traverse, Barnstable County Health Communications Specialist, said in the county statement Wednesday.
“However, because the vaccine allocation is so limited and because Barnstable County does not know when or how many vaccines will be received, we cannot register anyone yet,” she said.
“We are also unable to keep a waiting list. We assure you that as soon as we have the vaccine in hand, we will notify our eligible residents by any means possible, ”Traverse said.
“Lack of vaccine supply is severely hampering efforts to activate Cape Town vaccination sites for eligible populations,” Chatham Director of Health and Human Resources Robert Duncanson said in a press release Wednesday. .
“Massachusetts has received and distributed 98% of the current allocation from the federal government,” he said.
But he said the state had not received enough vaccines for people in phase one, which was due to end this month.
People in the first phase include healthcare workers facing COVID, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, first responders, people living in collective housing such as shelters, prisons and homes. group, home care providers and healthcare not covered by COVID. workers.
The first phase was scheduled for December-February; phase two for February-April and phase three, the final phase where the general public can be vaccinated, for April-June.
“Although residents 75 and over will be the next group eligible (in phase two) to receive a COVID-19 vaccination starting Monday, most will not find an appointment available immediately in Cape Cod,” said County officials said in a press release.
For more information, visit the Barnstable County website: barnstablecounty.org or call the Barnstable County COVID-19 Hotline, 774-330-3001.
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