LYNNFIELD — Patience may be a virtue, but not when it comes to getting the COVID-19 vaccination.
So says Town Administrator Rob Dolan, whose best advice to residents seeking to secure vaccination appointments is, “don’t wait.
“We will have clinics in Lynnfield as soon as we have doses, but don’t wait — get your vaccination elsewhere,” Dolan said during Thursday’s COVID-19 update. “What we are telling people is what other municipalities are also saying, and that is, don’t wait for your town to have clinics. Be a self-advocate, make some phone calls and utilize all of the choices that are out there. We’re only getting 100 doses a week at best, so do not wait.”
Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis outlined the options for Lynnfield residents. He said the sites nearest to Lynnfield are the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers, Walgreens at 166 Walnut St. in Saugus, Walgreens at 107 High St. in Danvers and Stop and Shop in Woburn.
“Beginning Monday, people aged 75 and over are eligible, so go to the state website, find a site near you and schedule an appointment. Have a family member help you. I heard earlier today that many appointments have opened up. We know the state is overwhelmed, but keep trying,” he said, reminding people that many persons eligible under Phase 1 (first responders, front-facing health care workers and school nurses) still have not gotten the vaccine and will also be seeking appointments.
Davis said that the community is “actually seeing some good trending,” with 43 cases in the last seven days and 88 in the last 14 days.
“That’s down considerably from what we have seen during the holiday period,” Davis said. “We hope this is good news moving forward as people seem to be following the state guidelines — mask-wearing, social distancing, washing of hands — all the good stuff, so keep doing what we’re doing.”
Approximately 70 first responders have been vaccinated during Phase 1, according to Davis.
“That includes fire personnel, police personnel and dispatchers and associated support staff and all school nurses,” Davis said.
Dolan outlined the details of the state’s regional plan, adding that Lynnfield’s district includes Wilmington, Andover, North Reading and Reading.
“Even though there will be clinics here in Lynnfield, Lynnfield residents can also utilize the services provided by the other communities in the region,” Dolan said. “We can do joint services or do smaller individual Lynnfield clinics, but the capping on the number of vaccines is making it very difficult.”
Dolan noted that anyone watching local or national news knows that availability of the vaccine and the ability to distribute it has been a “massive crisis” and that “we simply are not getting the vaccine that we need, not even to the point where we have 10 percent of what we need,” Dolan said. “That’s a national issue, not a Lynnfield issue, but we’ve gotten several calls from people asking when and where they can get (their) vaccine.”
The town will continue to issue COVID updates via online video presentations, posts on the town website and reverse-911 calls in emergency situations. The fire department has already ordered special distribution equipment, including refrigerators.
“We want you to know that we are ready to go, we have a plan in place, we have nurses, we have volunteers, we just need doses,” Dolan said, adding that the town is actively working with Senior Housing, the Council on Aging and GLSS (Greater Lynn Senior Services).
“Again, don’t wait as the amount (of the vaccine) we get is so minimal you need to take a multi-faceted approach,” Dolan said. “I know it’s difficult, but we can help work with you. We know there’s a lot of frustration as people want to get vaccinated and we share that. We are frustrated but hopeful at the same time. We are desperately waiting for our federal and state partners.”
