MERRIMAC — The Town of Merrimac wishes to share information with residents age 75 and older on how to request an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Residents age 75 and older became eligible for the vaccination on Monday, Feb. 1 through the state’s vaccination distribution plan. Residents must schedule an appointment in advance for any vaccination site, which can be done online or over the phone, and are reminded that appointments may be limited at this time.
The Town of Merrimac has joined a collaborative effort with Amesbury, Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, Groveland, Georgetown, Salisbury and Rowley to offer two local vaccination sites to residents of those communities eligible for the Moderna vaccine. Residents of the nine communities eligible to receive the vaccine will have the opportunity to be vaccinated at one of two sites. Clinics will be held at the Dr. John C. Page School in West Newbury and Amesbury High School in Amesbury.
Qualifying residents may contact Brienne Walsh, Senior Center Director, at 978-346-9549 or by email at bwalsh@townofmerrimac.com to pre-register for a vaccine at the regional clinic. Residents will be contacted on a first come, first serve basis as appointments become available.
The state recently announced creation of a 211 line to help residents without internet access and those who have struggled to make appointments through the state’s online system. This resource is only available for state vaccination sites and cannot be used to make appointments for the regional clinic.
The new 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 75 and older 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.
Callers will be able to speak with a representative who will help them find a nearby vaccination location and make an appointment. The nearest state vaccination site is Stop and Shop in Amesbury. Translators will be available to help.
If no appointments are available, the caller may put their name on a waitlist and be called back once an appointment at a nearby mass vaccination site is available. Appointments on the call-back waitlist will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Residents 75 and older with internet access should continue seeking an appointment online through the state’s website by clicking here. Residents eligible for the vaccine are also advised to contact their local pharmacy and primary care provider to learn about other potential opportunities available for vaccination.
The Baker/Polito Administration on Friday announced the “Trust the Facts, Get the Vax” campaign to educate the public about the need for vaccinations, the safety of the vaccines and the science behind them. Videos with leading doctors and scientists will be available in 10 languages here.
Vaccinations are not expected to be available to the general public until April through the state’s distribution plan. To view the plan, click here. Once the vaccine is available for distribution by the Town, staff at the Call Center will be available to assist residents with the registration process.
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.
As always, Merrimac residents can learn the latest about the COVID-19 situation in Merrimac by visiting the town’s COVID-19 portal.
###
