Good afternoon Gloucester residents,
This is Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken with some important updates regarding COVID-19 vaccine distribution for individuals who are 75 years and older.
Individuals who are 75-years-old and older can begin receiving their vaccines as of TODAY, Monday, Feb. 1.  At this time, we have partnered with our City’s senior-serving agencies who will conduct outreach to seniors in Gloucester and schedule our limited appointments.
If you are a Gloucester resident 75 or older and are currently a client of SeniorCare, you can call 978-281-1750 with any questions about vaccine clinics. Â You can also call the Rose Baker Senior Center at 978-281-9765 ext 12. or email esinagra@gloucester-ma.gov for assistance with appointments.
For our senior Veterans in Gloucester the VA is scheduling a COVID vaccine clinic in Gloucester for Veterans 60+ that are enrolled in the Gloucester VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The VA will contact the Veterans, who are enrolled in the VA healthcare system, directly to schedule the appointment. Â If you have any questions please contact Cape Ann Veterans Services at 978-281-9740.
The State’s vaccination distribution plan calls for most individuals to be vaccinated at state-run mass vaccination sites, through pharmacies, or through their own health care providers.  Those who live in Senior Housing should also check to see if any on-site clinics are being planned.
Those eligible for the vaccine should visit www.mass.gov/COVID-19-vaccine to locate vaccination sites (the closest mass vaccination site to Gloucester is at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel Danvers), check your eligibility, and schedule an appointment. Â Please have your insurance card and any supplemental insurance information ready although you can still receive the COVID-19 vaccine without insurance or identification.
Please be patient and if necessary keep trying if you are unable to get through and make an appointment – it may take several weeks to get an appointment at a location near you.
I ask each and every one of you to help our seniors and elders. Many do not have computers or transportation to get to the larger state vaccine sites. Please reach out to your family, friends and neighbors over the age of 75 and help them get their COVID vaccination.
The City of Gloucester and the Health Department stand ready to increase our role as a vaccinator, and help vaccinate broader segments of our community, should the state authorize additional doses of vaccine for our city.
The Health Department and the Mayor’s Office are experiencing extremely high call volume at this time.  If you have any questions regarding vaccination distribution in Massachusetts please contact the Department of Public Health at COVID-19-Vaccine-Plan-MA@mass.gov.Â
We do not know when the state will allow us to begin offering the vaccine to anyone other than those who are 75 and older. For the latest COVID-19 vaccine updates, visit the City of Gloucester’s, the Health Department’s Facebook Page @GloucesterMAHealthDepartment and my Facebook Page @MayorSefatia.
Be well and stay safe.
