City of Gloucester Shares Update on Vaccination Eligibility

Approximately 27% of Gloucester Residents Have Already Received First Dose

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Public Health Director Karin Carroll wish to update the community regarding the state’s announcement today of vaccination eligibility dates for all remaining groups.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced today that:

• Residents 60-years-old and older and certain workers become eligible for the vaccine on March 22
• Residents 55-years-old and older and residents with one or more, qualifying medical condition become eligible for the vaccine on April 5
• The general public, meaning everyone 16-years-old and older, becomes eligible for the vaccine on April 19

The state also reported today it has been informed by the federal government that the Commonwealth will be able to access an increased supply of vaccine doses in the near future. However, it may still take weeks for people to be notified through the state’s preregistration system that an appointment is available. See below for more information on pre registration and booking an appointment. 

City officials also wish to share an update on the city’s vaccination progress.

According to the state’s most recent Municipality Vaccination Report, 27% of the total population of Gloucester has received at least the first dose of a vaccine. The average percentage of Massachusetts residents who have received their first dose, at least, of a vaccine is 22%. The report is one of several featured on a new state dashboard online sharing COVID-19 data and updates. 

“This is an exciting moment for our state, and our community, as the collective hard work of protecting our citizens makes further progress through these additional vaccine group openings,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “We all want to put this pandemic behind us, so we must continue to encourage our eligible residents to get vaccinated while remaining safe and following all health guidelines. But I am truly proud of our Gloucester and Cape Ann teams and encourage the public to get the facts and get the vax.”

“Almost a third of our community has at least received their first dose of a vaccination– an incredible milestone for our city in the long haul that has been this pandemic. We’re eager to continue helping our residents access the vaccine as they become eligible,” Carroll said. “This pandemic is still far from over, and we encourage eligible residents seeking the vaccine to pre-register through the state’s new pre-registration system.”

Where and How to Book an Appointment:

Last week, the state launched a preregistration system for its mass vaccination sites, and through the system appointments are offered based on eligibility and available, nearby appointments. 

The closest mass vaccination site is at the DoubleTree Hotel in Danvers. 

Residents are advised that the system only accounts for appointments available at mass vaccination sites and that more vaccination sites can be found by clicking here. Senior Care Inc. provides transportation to vaccination sites through their volunteer Medical Transportation service program for self-mobile residents 60-years-old and older, and for more information or to seek out transportation for an appointment, call 978-281-1750. 

The City of Gloucester will additionally be sharing information about the state’s vaccination program for those who are homebound in the coming days.

To preregister:

• Eligible residents will complete the online form at mass.gov/COVIDVaccine to request to book an appointment at a mass vaccination site nearby.
• After completing the form, residents will get a confirmation via their preferred method of contact (text, e-mail, phone) and receive a weekly update about their status. Residents may opt out of pre registration at any time if they secure an appointment elsewhere.
• When an appointment becomes available at a mass vaccination site, the resident will be notified and will have 24 hours to accept the appointment once it is offered. If an appointment is not accepted after 24 hours, the resident will go back into the queue to wait for another appointment.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule Resource 211 line remains available for those without internet access or who have difficulty using the internet for the pre registration process.

The 211 line can be accessed by dialing 2-1-1 and selecting the prompt for “Help Scheduling a Vaccine Appointment.” The hotline is only available for residents eligible for the vaccine without internet access or who otherwise cannot use the appointment site, and will take calls Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Translators will be available to help through the 211 line. Callers will be able to speak with a live representative who will help them find a nearby vaccination location and make an appointment. For more information about the 211 line, click here.

The City of Gloucester will continue to share any and all updates regarding local and regional vaccination opportunities at the City of Gloucester’s website here, the Health Department’s Facebook Page @GloucesterMAHealthDepartment here, Mayor Romeo Theken’s Facebook Page @MayorSefatia here and by robocall. 

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