Waltham City Vaccine Site Canceled Amid New State Rollout Plan

WALTHAM, MA — There will be no local city-run coronavirus vaccination clinic in Waltham, thanks to several significant changes to the state vaccination rollout plan announced Wednesday.

"This is disappointing that Waltham will not receive any vaccine to vaccinate their residents," Waltham Public Health Director Michelle Feeley said. "We had been hopeful we would, but the new directive today has changed everything."

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

"It is not easy, we want to do right by the residents of Waltham but unfortunately, our hands are tied," Feeley said.

Despite repeated requests for vaccine and prepping to host a local clinic to vaccinate residents most in need, the Waltham Health Department never received any vaccine, according to the Waltham Health Department.

The city collaborated with Weston to have the first responders in both communities vaccinated, but that vaccine came from Weston.

The department has been so inundated with calls about the vaccine, the mayor announced in desperation earlier this month that they were continuing to request vaccines, even though the state hadn't sent them any.

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.