THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 26, 2021 Page 11 State announces $4.7 Million for Vaccine Equity in Hardest-Hit Communities Everett, Malden, and Revere residents can now make appointments B OSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration on Wednesday announced a new $4.7 million initiative to promote COVID-19 vaccine equity in the 20 communities most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Vaccination Appointments: on Thursday, around 50,000 new appointments will be added at mass vaccination locations across the Commonwealth. This includes the mass vaccination locations at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Springfield, Danvers, Dartmouth and Natick. Retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens will also administer over 20,000 doses next week as well. As of Thursday morning, residents can go to www.mass. gov/COVIDvaccineto find and schedule their appointments. Appointment availability is very limited due to the constrained supply of vaccine doses that the Commonwealth is receiving from the federal government. $4.7 Million for Vaccine Equity: The Administration on Wednesday announced a $4.7 million effort to support its vaccine equity initiative announced last week, which focuses on reducing barriers to vaccination in the 20 hardest-hit communities in the Commonwealth. The Administration will work with Archipelago Strategies Group (ASG) and Health Care for All (HCFA) to best leverage these funds. The initiative will support and coordinate with local leaders and community- and faithbased organizations to strengthen existing efforts in these cities and towns. These efforts will specifically focus on communities of color, homebound seniors, disabled individuals and other hard-to-reach populations. ASG and HCFA will provide hyperlocal, population-specific communication resources as well as hiring local residents and working with local organizations with cultural and linguistic competencies to reach disparately impacted populations in each priority municipality. ASG specializes in grassroots mobilization, partnering with local leaders, community organizations, and media partners to develop community-based solutions. As a subcontractor, HCFA will provide high-touch support for priority communities, including direct service support, community organizing, education, and outreach. This work will complement the Commonwealth’s $2.5 million public awareness campaign, “Trust the Facts, Get the Vax,” adapting the campaign’s messaging for specific communities. The initiative will focus on the 20 municipalities with the greatest COVID-19 case burden, taking into account social determinants of health and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color. These communities are Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield and Worcester. This work will be coordinated with targeted opportunities for increased vaccine access through existing and new locations, including pop up sites and mobile clinics. Malden Lions Club still accepting clothing drive donations T he Malden Lions Club continues to work hard on its clothing drive. In addition to clothing, the Lions Club is accepting shoes, pocketbooks, etc. Donations can be dropped off at Dr. Deborah Wayne’s office at 702 Salem St. in Maplewood Square. Turn of the Century QUITE A SIGHT: This horse-drawn antique hearse dating back to the 1880’s was parked outside the Spadafora Funeral Home on Main Street Monday morning. It was reported that the hearse was from Connecticut.(Photo courtesy of Frank Russell) Board of Health updates residents on availability of COVID-19 vaccine I n the last few weeks, several challenges regarding the COVID-19 vaccine have emerged. These developments have increased frustration and anxiety for everyone. We are hoping to clarify some of the misconceptions. The Board of Health will announce a vaccine clinic for seniors to receive their second dose as soon as they are notified of the availability of a vaccine supply. Once this happens, all efforts will be made to reach out to seniors and assist with the registration for the clinic. At the present time, MALDEN: TODAY | FROM PAGE 6 Breed Bayrd Foundation – galloping through Malden like the Lone Ranger, leaving goodwill and large charitable contributions along the way, quietly going about their altruistic calling. Yes indeed, true facts! A quick Google search will attest to the generosity of the Foundation and the heart of gold they possess. If they’re not doing long overdue renovation work to the wheelchair lift and bathrooms at the Malden Public Library, they’re handing out large sums of money to there is no Malden vaccine clinic scheduled to request an appointment for a second dose, but the Board of Health is working to secure enough doses to Malden. The state has indicated that it would be pulling vaccines from individual municipal clinics; however, Malden may be one of the 20 communities that will continue to distribute the vaccine locally. The Board of Health is confirming this information. Right now, registering for one of the state vaccination sites has become a challenge because the state has opened the eligiMalden’s Summer Youth Employment Program. My favorite though, cause it is near and dear to many of us in Malden who have been affected by a loved one’s addiction, is their continued support of Malden Overcoming Addiction. Yes indeed, the Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation may fly under the radar of many in this great big beautiful city of ours, but rest assured their contributions are felt – whether they realize it or not – by every single Maldonian. Thank you sincerely. Postscript: I’d like to express my sincerest apologies to anybility for the COVID-19 vaccine to those 65 years of age and older without having the infrastructure to support the thousands of appointments that are being requested. Please continue to try the following resources to schedule an appointment: • Call 211 for an appointment at a state mass vaccination site and other area clinics. • Call or go online to CVS.com and register for an appointment. The Broadway and Eastern Avenue locations are available to choose from for an appointment. body who has been adversely affected by inaccuracies that have been printed in my columns or that may be printed in the future. I’m like a doctor, my motto “do not harm” (but without hundreds of thousands in debt and years of college). I will always take full responsibility for any inaccuracies or for anything I write or print. Not taking this subject lightly, and upon deeper reflection I have committed to taking my articles to a higher level with additional due diligence applied to matters sensitive and otherwise. Trust, but verify.
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