Marlborough Still Struggling To Get Vaccine Doses, Mayor Says

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Marlborough has been ready for weeks to get a vaccine site at a local hotel up and running, but the city is struggling to get vaccine doses from the state, Mayor Arthur Vigeant told the City Council Monday night.

Vigeant said the city received about 800 doses this week, but all are second doses. On the positive side, Marlborough has received 160 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine for a new program for people who are home-bound.

City health officials and Marlborough Hospital set up a vaccine site at the Courtyard Marriott along Felton Street in early March. Health officials initially expected to dole out about 750 doses per day as a "mini-mega" site, but the state has so far not granted approval for that many doses.

"We just keep going, our site is up and running," Vigeant told Councilors.

At-Large Councilor Samantha Perlman asked Vigeant what share of city residents have been vaccinated. Vigeant said he did not know the exact number due to residents getting vaccinated outside the city at state-run mega sites. The city's health department has administered 1,634 doses so far.

Vigeant also said it is possible Marlborough will get access to about 1,000 doses from the federal government, which are being shipped to smaller clinics and community hospitals. Those doses could be sent to the Courtyard Marriott site, he said.

The state on Monday opened up vaccine eligibility to new groups, including people over age 55, and people with medical conditions like dementia, Down syndrome and sickle cell disease.