METHUEN — Mayor Neil Perry wishes to inform the public that the City of Methuen will open a limited Covid vaccine clinic at The Loop tomorrow, and encourages residents who are unable to be served by the Methuen clinic to pursue other options to obtain a vaccination.
The clinic will be hosted on a recurring basis for registered and confirmed Methuen residents over age 75 at the former Avenue store at The Loop, 90 Pleasant Valley St.
The clinic will distribute 100 doses per week, which is the city’s current allocation from the state. Residents must either be a member of a group eligible under phase one of the state’s rollout plan, or be 75 or older in order to receive a shot. Vaccines will be administered to those who schedule an appointment through the city’s dedicated hotline.
How to Register
To sign up, residents should call the hotline at 978-983-8915, and leave a message with their name and telephone number. Council on Aging staff will return messages in the order they are received, and help residents to schedule an appointment.
The City of Methuen has so far only been allocated 100 doses per week from the state Department of Public Health, and is prioritizing those age 75 and older due to the increased risk of serious illness and death the virus poses for those in that age group.
After 100 slots are filled for the first clinics this week, the next 400 callers will be placed on a waitlist, and will be scheduled for vaccination appointments in future weeks. Calls will not be taken once 500 total spots have been filled.
For residents needing assistance with transportation, the Merrimack Valley Regional Transportation Authority (MVRTA) Office of Special Services can be reached at 978-469-6878 (select option 3) or via its website at www.mvrta.com.
“We are asking our seniors, especially those who may have limited vaccination options, to sign up for the city clinic,” Mayor Perry said. “The city is doing everything possible to eliminate the risk of COVID-19 in Methuen. What’s important for everyone to remember, though, is that the vaccine situation in Methuen and throughout the state is evolving constantly. We urge patience on the part of all residents as we navigate this process and work to vaccinate our most at-risk residents first with the resources we have available to us and carve a path out of this pandemic together.”
Residents who have already made appointments at other vaccination sites should not cancel those appointments. While the city clinic is one potential option, residents should also be mindful of other avenues through which they can be vaccinated. More information about additional options are available through the state Department of Public Health:
State Vaccine Resources and Alternative Locations
Though supply is limited through the earliest phases of the vaccine rollout, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does have a variety of vaccination options for those who are eligible now.
All those in phase one of the state’s vaccine rollout plan, as well as those who are 75 and older, are now eligible to seek vaccination appointments.
- Click here for vaccine resources for those age 75 and older
- For general information about obtaining a vaccine, including determining your eligibility, click here
In addition to the Methuen clinic, residents are encouraged to seek opportunities to be vaccinated at these locations in the area:
- Walgreens, 310 South Main St., Haverhill: Click here for more information
- Lawrence General Hospital
- DoubleTree Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers: Click here to check appointment availability
Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Mayor Perry reminds residents to take the following steps to help limit the spread of the coronavirus in Methuen:
- Practice social distancing. Keeping 6 feet away from those outside our own households severely limits the virus’ ability to spread.
- Avoid gatherings, and stay home as much as you can.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth face covering when out in public. Doing so prevents those who may be sick but not know it from spreading the virus.
- Get tested. Methuen is fortunate to have ample access to free testing right here in our community, and every resident should be taking advantage of that resource. Getting tested, regardless of whether you feel ill or believe you may be sick, allows us to identify where the virus is in our community and keep it from spreading further.
COVID-19 testing is available at the following locations nearby:
- Lawrence General Hospital, MVRTA City Lot, 70 General St., Lawrence (enter via Canal Street): drive-through and walk-up testing is available. For more information, call 978-946-8409. Click here to view hours.
- Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, 147 Pelham St.: Walk-ups are welcome. For more information, call 978-685-7663.
- Transformative Healthcare, 155 Haverhill St., Lawrence: Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Click here to pre-register.
For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.
Residents are urged to regularly check the city’s website at cityofmethuen.net, Facebook page at @methuenmassgovt and Twitter page at @cityofmethuen for updates about the status of the virus in the community.
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