Weston Board Of Health Publishes Update For January 21

Press release from the Town of Weston:

January 21, 2021

Weston’s Board of Health will be setting up vaccination clinics in the coming weeks, following the state’s schedule. If you wish to be notified of the vaccine’s availability, please sign up on this registration website. A member of Weston’s COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to you at the appropriate time so you can then sign up for a clinic in Weston. Refer to the state's phasing and prioritization schedule below for timing details.

In Massachusetts, the COVID-19 Vaccine schedule is determined by the Department of Public Health (DPH) in conjunction with CDC guidelines and the Governor’s office. Weston has partnered with the DPH to provide vaccine to our residents ASAP. Either register to receive notification of the Weston clinics or watch for Public Safety or Latest Town news for clinic announcements.

The Board of Health is currently working on Phase 1 and intends to begin Phase 2 in early February. The Board will schedule and hold clinics each week using all available vaccines provided by the DPH according to individuals in the highest registered priority group to be served.

Vaccine Prioritization and Phasing Schedule

1. Phase 1 (December 2020 – February 2021) Approved vaccines start to go to five priority groups (listed in order of priority):
   1. Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
   2. Long-term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities
   3. Police, fire and emergency medical services
   4. Congregate care settings (including corrections and shelters)
   5. Home-based health care workers
   6. Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care
2. Phase 2 (February – March 2021) Listed in order of priority:
   1. Individuals with 2+ comorbidities (high risk for COVID-19 complications), individuals 75+, and residents and staff of public and private low income and affordable senior housing
   2. Early education, K-12, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health workers
   3. Adults 65+
   4. Individuals with one co-morbid condition
3. Phase 3 (April 2021) The vaccine is expected to be available to the general public, including:
   • Higher education workers, including administrators, teaching and non-teaching staff
   • Bottled beverage industry workers
   • Veterinarians

Frequently Asked Question

DPH has a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the phasing, administration, and follow-up precautions of the vaccine, including:

• Who administers the vaccine
• What are the potential side effects
• What can be expected after the vaccine has been administered to phase three recipients

If you are an individual at high risk for COVD-19 complications, be sure to reach out to your personal physician or healthcare provider for more information.

News Announcements: Stay Informed

There is understandably a lot of questions and anxiety associated with the virus and the administration of the vaccine. If you have not done so already, be sure to subscribe to Public Safety News or Latest Town News email/text notifications at WestonMA.gov/StayInformed (don't forget to confirm your email/phone number).

COVID-19 Weekly Public Health Report for Weston

Count and Rate Confirmed and Tests Performed 1/1/2020 - 1/14/2021.

The increase in case counts in Weston is directly associated with holiday travel and social gatherings.

Questions can be directed to the Weston Public Health Department: 781-786-5030 or COVIDquestions@WestonMA.gov.

Complete state-wide information can be found on the state's website

COVID-19 Testing in Weston

Weston's Fire Department is hosting weekday coronavirus testing for Weston residents. Registration is required. See the registration website for additional information.

Weston Public Schools has developed a testing program for faculty/staff/students that will be expanded to families. Additional information is available on the Weston Public Schools website.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Board of Health is responsible for:

• the promotion and protection of public health through:
  • education
  • enforcement of environmental, public, medical and mental health laws
  • regulations
• providing enforcement of the State Sanitary Code in the areas of:
  • housing
  • food sales and service
  • pools
  • camps
• the surveillance and reporting of communicable disease
• the State Environmental Code for:
  • wells
  • septic systems
  • lead and asbestos abatement
  • ground water protection

This press release was produced by the Town of Weston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.