Waltham Mayor: 'No New Vaccines Have Been Received'

WALTHAM, MA — The city has not received its weekly allotment of the coronavirus vaccine since receiving 100 doses in early January.

Although the health department has requested more vaccinations from the state, they haven't come, according to the mayor.

The state allows local Health Department to request 100 vaccines per week. The state sent the city about 100 doses to Weston to help vaccinate the area's public safety personnel the week of Jan. 11, which it did.

"The health department has done that, but no new vaccines have been received to date," Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said in an email.

She said she did not know what happened to the doses the city requested in the subsequent weeks. But she pointed out that it's up to the federal government to decide on the number of vaccines each state can have, and in turn the state provides vaccines to municipalities.

"Daily my office receives calls for information regarding vaccines," McCarthy said. "Each name and contact information are compiled for future vaccine processing."

Waltham is not alone in having issues surrounding the vaccine.

Gov. Charlie Baker insisted the state will be able to deliver 305,000 doses statewide by the middle of February and that he hopes the amount of vaccine pledged from the federal government will increase in the coming weeks.

The state opened a call center Friday for seniors having trouble accessing the state's online system.

Where vaccinations are happening in Waltham:

Some care facilities and senior housing: For those who are 75 and over and living in a nursing or other care facility in town, a federal pharmacy program is providing vaccines.

Other senior housing sites in Waltham are waiting approval from the state to become an authorized vaccination site or are working through the federal or state pharmacy programs, McCarthy said.

Hannaford's pharmacy on Main Street: The state’s pharmacy program is providing vaccinations. The supermarket has a program for vaccinating Waltham seniors, 75 years of age and over. The Waltham Senior Center staff is helping to schedule appointments.

AFC Urgent Care in Waltham: The AFC Urgent Care and the city are collaborating once again in the space where the city had its first drive-thru COVID-19 testing program. On Feb. 3 the city held a jointly operated drive-thru vaccination event for seniors (age 75 and over). A second one is scheduled for Feb. 6. Between the two events, there were 200 vaccinations available there. Watch for more events there.

Outside of Waltham:

Beth Israel Lahey is opening a clinic for its patients at the former Boston Sports Club in the Wells Avenue Office Park in Newton, and Mass General Brigham is opening one next door in Needham at TripAdvisor for their patients. These clinics are only for people whose physicians are at these hospitals.

• Newton: Holtzman Medical Group Mt. Ida Campus (UMass Amherst)
• Newton: CVS, 978 Boylston St.
• Newton: Wegmans, 200 Boylston St.
• Needham: Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates-Atrius Health
• Boston: Fenway Park
• Boston: Reggie Lewis Center (check registration criteria - some clinics require Boston residency)
• 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.

Previously:

• Feds Cut MA Coronavirus Vaccine Shipment By 20 Percent ...
• Massachusetts Has Received 347,450 COVID-19 Vaccine ...
• Gov. Baker Acknowledges 'Very Frustrating' MA Vaccine ...

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.