Worcester Hosting Walk-In Coronavirus Equity Vaccine Clinic

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester will host a walk-in coronavirus vaccine clinic on Saturday featuring 500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose version of the inoculation. The clinic is being held under the state's equity program, which is aimed at getting the vaccine to populations most affected by the virus.

The vaccines at Saturday's clinic will be available to people who meet the wider eligibility criteria in the state right now, which includes people over 55 with one or more special medical conditions, educators and some front-line workers.

The equity program further narrows availability to people in these groups:

• People of color, including Black, Latino and indigenous people
• Non-English speakers
• Residents who do not have access to public transportation
• People who do not feel comfortable getting vaccinated in a medical facility
• People with disabilities
• Homeless residents
• Residents with mental illness or substance use disorder

Worcester is one of 20 communities around the state participating for the equity program. In Massachusetts, people of color have been disproportionately impacted by coronavirus. That disparity has followed into the vaccine rollout. In mid-March, local health officials reported wide racial gaps in vaccination rates among Worcester residents.

The Worcester equity clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the YMCA, 766 Main St. For more information, email lmateo.vaccineinfo@gmail.com. You can also see the city's flier for the event here.