*VIDEO* Gloucester Community Members Share Reasons for Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19

GLOUCESTER — Members of the Gloucester community recently came together to share their reasons for getting vaccinated in a video.

The video features members of the community including:

• Dean Salah, Owner of George’s 
• Carol Cafasso, Gloucester High Program Leader and Teacher
• Angela Sanfilippo, Executive Director of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association
• Elise Sinagra, Director of Elder Services
• Marilia Silva, Site Manager at the Gloucester Family Health Center
• Julie LaFontaine, Executive Director of The Open Door and The Open Door Team

English, Sicilian and Portuguese are spoken in the video to reflect Gloucester’s diverse population.

As of Thursday, May 20, 67% of the City of Gloucester had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Members of the community are urged to get their vaccination, particularly as numerous state public health measures are being lifted this Saturday, including much of the state mask order as well as the full reopening of industries. 

Residents can seek out a vaccination through the following channels:

• Visit vaxfinder.mass.gov to view area vaccination locations and availability. 
• Visit capeannclinic.com to view lists of vaccination opportunities local to the Cape Ann region. Clinics will be offered regularly in Rockport, Topsfield and Ipswich through the Greater Cape Ann Community Collaborative (GCACC). 
• Call 211 to seek out an appointment if you do not have internet access. 
• The state’s Homebound Vaccination program was expanded on Monday to offer in-home vaccination appointments to all eligible residents unable to get to a vaccine appointment. For more information, call 833-983-0485.
• Call 978-515-5255 to speak with a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer to find access to transportation to or from an appointment and assist those without internet access with appointments. The line is dedicated to supporting Gloucester residents.
• Residents are additionally encouraged to contact their primary-care physicians and local pharmacies to inquire about vaccination opportunities. 
• Children 12 and older became eligible for the Pfizer vaccine earlier this month. Parents and guardians are encouraged to talk to their child’s primary-care provider about the vaccination and seek out vaccination opportunities.

For the latest vaccination and COVID-19 related updates, visit the Gloucester Health Department’s news blog, Facebook page, and Twitter account.

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