Stoughton Senior Housing Will Still Get Vaccines Despite New Plan

STOUGHTON, MA — Starting March 1, Massachusetts communities, including Stoughton, will no longer get new doses of the coronavirus vaccine sent to them. Instead, distribution will go to the state's mass vaccination sites and retail pharmacies.

There's been concern that Gov. Charlie Baker's decision to change distribution protocol creates unnecessary difficulties for senior residents to get vaccinated. But in Stoughton, two groups in phase two of the state's vaccination plan will still be able to get vaccinated through the town's Public Health Association.

Association Director Janiece Bruce said the town will still get vaccines delivered for seniors that are home bound and for those living in Stoughton senior housing. Those that already got their first dose can also be vaccinated at a town clinic, but others will have to go to a pharmacy or one of the state's mass vaccination sites to get vaccinated.

Bruce said she does feel bad for seniors that might not have a computer or a family member that can help sign them up. She said she emphasizes with those who might have a harder time getting vaccinated because of the change, and the Stoughton Public Health Association will still be a resource to help guide them.

"We're trying to roll with it because we have no choice," Bruce said. "As much as we'd like to continue with the senior population, we're going to shift our efforts to help guide them. The site is so busy, it's hard to get into any appointments. It's just new, so we're trying to get familar with how to help people that get caught in that."

Bruce said patience is going to be the key.

After a meeting with the state's Department of Public Health Friday, she said she's optimistic a lot more vaccinations will be available soon, and the new distribution process will be efficient. She said the goal is also to have local pharmacies play a key role in distribution as production ramps up.

"I do feel like with the amount of vaccines we have right now, it makes sense, rather than sending them out to hundreds of towns in Massachusetts, it's sending them out to locations that are strategically located," Bruce said. "It is requiring a little bit of patience, but I do think we'll see improvements when more vaccinations are out there."