Shots to be given to homebound residents
10,000 J&J doses being set aside
‘The program is designed for individuals who have considerable difficulty and or require significant support to leave the home for medical appointments.’
MARYLOU SUDDERS state Heath and Human Services secretary
Massachusetts launches a new program today that will bring coronavirus vaccines directly into the homes of the state’s roughly 25,000 homebound residents.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced the program last Thursday, noting the state expects to receive an additional 40,800 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week. About a quarter — or roughly 10,000 — of those shots will be earmarked for hard-toreach homebound residents, Health Secretary Marylou Sudders said.
“The program is designed for individuals who have considerable difficulty and or require significant support to leave the home for medical appointments,” Sudders said.
Homebound residents can sign up for at-home shots by calling 844-771-1628. The line is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with English and Spanish lines, and translators available in 100 other languages.
Local boards of health will lead the efforts to get shots into the arms of their homebound residents in 170 communities. The state has partnered with Commonwealth Care Alliance on the initiative. Until now, communities and local health organizations have been doing their best to reach the roughly 25,000 homebound individuals across the state.
Leominster partnered with Brewster Ambulance and Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts to bring about 500 doses allocated by the state to vaccinate homebound residents inside their homes.
Last month, Boston Medical Center launched a homevisit program and has vaccinated more than 400 homebound seniors so far.