What The New State Vaccine Rollout Plan Means For Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — There will be no town-run coronavirus vaccination clinic in Brookline, thanks to several significant changes to the state vaccination rollout plan announced Wednesday.

"For the last few weeks we haven’t received any doses, so this doesn’t surprise me about the reallocation to other sources," said Brookline Health and Human Services Commissioner Swanni Jett. "There’s a vaccine shortage, and I’m sure there’s more requests than can be filled."

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday the state would be funneling more resources toward its largest vaccination sites at the expense of community-focused ones.

The town has received 500 first doses —including 400 doses of vaccine for 1st responders the first week of January — and 400 second doses to date.

"We have only taken care of first responders and a few seniors," said Jett.

The Brookline Health Department Brookline has requested vaccine every week; but received just 100 doses in late January. They have 60 second doses left to administer on Friday at the Brookline Senior Center.

"My only hope is the minority communities that were disproportionate impacted by COVID-19 have higher priority and receive the vaccine along with seniors faster," Jett said.

His department still anticipates vaccinating Brookline Housing residents through a separate Massachusetts Department of Public Health elder affairs allocation.

"I would hope this remains a public health priority," he said in an email. "As we have used matrix, and epidemiology to govern most of our decisions, vaccine rollout can used in the same manner."

Nationwide, vaccine demand has been higher than supply. Baker said the feds have promised the state more doses and that some 70,000 appointments were set to go online at mass vaccination sites Thursday. But, the additional promised supply from the feds still isn't enough to send doses to every municipality, he said.

Although that news is frustrating for many towns and cities, it came with the more hopeful news that the state was opening up the eligibility to seniors 65 and older and those with at least two health concerns.

Still, with limited supply of the vaccine, Baker cautioned it could take up to one month for all newly eligible residents to get a first-dose appointment.

Mass vaccination sites nearby:

• Boston: Fenway Park
• Foxborough: Gillette Stadium

You can check the state map here. You can also find locations using your zip code here, and you can download a list of vaccination sites here

The vaccine is "free" but that those with insurance will be billed through their insurance company.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.