Continued advocation for more doses, ongoing partnership

Inside Arlington High School's gymnasium, 600 first responders from Arlington, Belmont and Lexington received their second doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. They include police, fire, emergency medical technicians, and support personnel, plus school nurses who are administering vaccinations and/or Covid-19 testing in school populations. 

The cooperation and collaboration between Arlington, Belmont, and Lexington has been "very productive,” said Kevin Kelley, Arlington’s fire chief, as the clinic begun in January ended. “We can easily double or triple our capacity for vaccinations and hope the state increases our vaccination allotments so we can vaccinate more residents.”

“We are grateful to Arlington for hosting these clinics and sharing their expertise along with Belmont,” said Derek Sencabaugh, Lexington’s fire chief. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our regional partners in order to get as many people vaccinated as possible and get to the new normal.” 

“The clinic that was set up in the Arlington High School gymnasium was very impressive,” said Wayne Haley, Belmont’s acting fire chief. “I’d like to thank all the folks that have been working hard to administer the vaccine to our first responders. The volume of personnel that were vaccinated on Wednesday was really something to see.”

This priority group of first responders was the first step for local public health departments to be able to administer the vaccine. Other priority groups listed in Phase 1 will be vaccinated through other programs as part of the state’s plan.

• Most health-care workers will be vaccinated at their place of employment.
• First responders can visit mass.gov/FirstResponderVaccine for Covid-19 vaccine locations and more information (local public health).
• Individuals living and working in long term care will be vaccinated as part of the federal Pharmacy Partnership Program.
• Vaccination for individuals in other congregate settings (e.g., group homes, shelters, corrections) will be coordinated by the management of those facilities. 

For eligible Phase 1 and 2 priority groups, view the state’s Covid-19 Vaccination site map. 

View here for the MA Covid-19 vaccine distribution timeline

Arlington High School, as part of a regional effort, was the lead site for four towns where health personnel administered the Moderna vaccine to about 600 first responders starting Jan. 12 and ending Feb. 11.

This was the first large-scale inoculation effort here, aimed at addressing the Covid-19 pandemic whose cases have risen since mid-October. As of Jan. 7, the town had a 3.56-percent positivity rate, as compared 7.7 percent statewide. The current numbers were not immediately available. 

Jan. 8, 2021: First responders get vaccine at AHS as part of 4-town effort

This news summary published Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021. AHS student Lucy Spangler edited this story.