COVID Vaccinations Updates - Revised
Update 3/5/2021

Here we are in March and things continue to change. This week, the Governor announced that more people will be lining up to get vaccines, as educators join the vaccination seekers on the 11th.
Our advice: stay patient and calm!

The good news is that as we move forward, while some options for vaccinations have dried up, others have opened. Federal senior housing in Town will have an onsite vaccination clinic for their residents, many hospitals are resuming contacting patients about vaccination opportunities, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will soon be available in Massachusetts.

Due to the hard work of outstanding volunteers, we continue to be able to connect our seniors with appointments daily. If you or someone you know are over the age of 60 and eligible to receive a vaccine at this time and a Wellesley Resident and would like some help finding a vaccine, please give us a call at (781) 235-3961. To be eligible to receive a vaccine, to date, you must fall into one of the categories: (1) Age 65 and older; (2) Any age with two or more comorbidities; (3) low income and affordable senior housing residents and staff; (4) early education and K-12 workers; or (4) part of the Phase I Priority Group. Check out the State's page for the most up-to-date information here.

The current vaccination website resources can be difficult to navigate at any age. If you need any assistance at all with vaccination sign-ups, even if you're a younger senior, our volunteers are here to help!

We will continue to include all materials that we have compiled over the past month related to vaccinations, and we have returned to highlighting any new/updated materials in green background.

As always, please contact us if we can be of any assistance. If you are one who has not yet received a vaccine, please stay calm and give us a call if you need us!

So, what are co-morbidities again?

Vaccination Registration open for Residents with 2+ Comorbidities

If you are over the age of 65, you can getting a vaccination appointment starting on February 18th. Have questions on co-morbidities or the process, check the State's page here.

What is considered a co-morbidity?

Two be eligible, a resident must have two or more eligible co-morbidities, according to the State's website, the conditions that qualify are: Asthma (moderate-to-severe); Cancer; Chronic Kidney Disease; COPD; Down Syndrome; Heart Conditions (Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiomyopathies); Immunocompromised State from solid organ transplant; Obsesity/Severe Obesity (BMI 30kg/m2 or highter); Pregnancy; Sickle Cell Disease; Smoking; and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Click here for more information.

Do I need a doctor's note to show co-morbidities?

No. When scheduling your appointment or at the time of the appointment, you will be required to review the eligibility criteria and confirm you are eligible to receive the vaccine. The attestation will be done verbally over the phone, verbally or in writing at the vaccination site, or online if using an online appointment scheduling tool. You can also follow online instructions and complete the COVID-19 Massachusetts Vaccination Attestation Form available on the mass.gov website. You will not need a doctor’s note or other documentation to show you have two or more of the above conditions. See here for more info.

Yes, Age may matter!

I am not 65 yet, but I will be in a few months, can I sign up now?

No. Unfortunately, the State made a hard cut off at the age of 65 for the second group. All of the scheduling systems screen the date of birth to ensure that the person signing up is in fact over 65. If you have two or more co-morbidities, you may still be eligible. Click here for the State's Phase vaccination plan.

I am under 65 and live in low income and affordable senior housing, when can I sign up for a vaccine?

The State's website indicates that those who live in elderly housing are part of the second tier of Phase 2 and are now eligible to sign-up for the vaccine. You may also want to check with the administration at your housing location, as many have been working on plans to set up a vaccination clinic for their residents onsite. In Wellesley, the Wellesley Housing Authority has sent out flyers and information on how residents who are eligible can participate in an onsite clinic.

Do you need an appointment?

Who has available appointments this week?

Our volunteers have been relentless with searching for vaccination openings for our seniors. Over the past few days, we have seen a trend in appointments being made at CVS locations, Natick Mall and a few at Gillette. Volunteers have experienced little luck with other locations, Walgreens seems very tricky and many of the smaller clinics seem to not be getting enough vaccine at this time to offer appointments. We have also heard from several residents that their hospital affiliations have resumed reaching out and scheduling appointments.

Prior locations that we had been promoting, of which we had high success at booking appointments, have currently come off line due to vaccination distributions. We continue to stay in contact with smaller locations such as AFC and Holtzman and will refresh the information for those locations in the future, when more vaccination appointments become available.

Are there other ways I can get an appointment?

Are there vaccinations available in Wellesley?

As of March 4, there are not currently any locations in Wellesley where someone over the age of 65 can get a vaccine. The Town has requested vaccinations from the State, but requests have been denied. The Town was able to work with the Housing Authority to provide onsite vaccinations to federally funded housing residents.

Is my health network offering vaccinations to their patients?

Maybe. Some of us have noticed when we have logged into our accounts through Mass General-Brigham, Newton Wellesley Hospital or others, that there is a notice to patients that sometime in the near future they will be reaching out to all of their patients over the age of 65 to provide vaccinations. This may be of help to some who are involved in these systems as time goes. As recent as this week, we have heard from residents that their health networks have started reaching out again to schedule vaccinations.

I am homebound. How can I get a vaccine?

The Board of Health is working now to connect with folks who are home bound. If you believe you would be considered home bound and are in need of the vaccine, please give us a call and we will be happy to pass your information along to the Health Department.

I am a Veteran, is there another way to get a vaccine appointment?

We were originally sending folks the direction of Nancy, our Veteran's Service agent. We have since been advised that while Nancy is not the most direct contact for these appointments. The VA is reaching out directly to all veterans enrolled in the VA Healthcare System. If you meet specific VA criteria, you may be eligible to receive the vaccine from the VA. The West Suburban Veterans' Service office does not make appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. To enroll in the VA Healthcare System, or ask questions, please call 877-222-VETS (8387).

I need transportation to get to my appointment...

COA Bus - Wellesley Residents over 60

Are you a Wellesley Resident over the age of 60? In order to assist with folks getting to vaccine appointments, we will be temporarily extending our service to a few vaccination locations outside of Town. If you book your appointment at a bordering community location on a weekday (Monday-Friday) and after 9:00 a.m. and before 3:00 p.m., we may be able to assist. Please check with us first before calling MWRTA to book a ride, ask for Greg or email him here.

If you have rode our bus in this past year, you can call MWRTA at (508) 820-4650 directly to schedule a ride. You will need to tell them the day, time, and location of your appointment and can book up to 14 days in advance. If you have not rode our bus in the past year, please give us a call at (781) 235-3961 and ask the staff member for assistance with completing a bus application, which takes approximately 5 minutes over the phone. Once completed, your application will be sent to MWRTA and you will be able to contact MWRTA directly to schedule your trip.

State Program - Caregiver/Companion Eligibility

The State announced in February, Companions/Caregivers of residents over 75 can book appointments for the resident over 75 and the Companion/Caregiver at one of the four mass vaccination sites (Gillette, Fenway, Eastfield Mall Springfield, and Danvers). See flyer below for more info, or click here. This is not a program that is run through the COA's and unfortunately we do not have any additional information. Please consult the site above for more information. It is our understanding that this program remains only available to folks when the eligible person for the vaccine is over 75.

Appointment Scheduled, but....

I got an appointment and a confirmation, but it was for a vaccination site that said the population served was restricted, does it matter?

Yes, it does matter. We know from the news and residents first hand that if you sign up and even get a confirmation for a vaccination appointment, that it could be cancelled if you do not actually qualify as the population being served. And if you do get a vaccination, some residents have had the experience that they are told they are on their own for scheduling their second shot. Please consult our list of locations down below that are eligible for Wellesley over 75 residents. If you use the State's vaccination map, please note that at this time NO yellow star is currently open to Wellesley Residents.

How do I get a second appointment ? Does it have to be the same vaccine?

We know that are sites that are connected with Prep Mod, your appointment for your second dose is generated and provided to you during your appointment for your first dose. CVS provides a second appointment when someone signs up for the first. We are not as sure with the other pharmacy and/or health facility locations. But yes, it does have to be the same vaccine (Moderna vs Pfizer).

Question Submitted- Scheduling a second shot without a smart phone

We received a question about concerns over how to sign up for a second shot without a smart phone. Our understanding is that even in a mass vaccination site, like Fenway, there, are staff available to assist someone with manually signing up for their second shot. Our understanding is that the staff have been great and helpful, you just need to plan a little extra time.

I need a second vaccine

Some residents have expressed concern from seeing news coverage that second shots may not always be available in the same location as the first. Sometimes things happen, if you find yourself in this position, please take a deep breath. If you need help finding a second vaccine, please feel free to give us a call and we will have a volunteer connect with you.

Inclement weather is predicted....

When your appointment is close and inclement weather is in the forecast at a local clinic or state vaccination site (you booked on Prep Mod), you can click onto the State's page and see an update on weather.

On bad weather days, the banner read "In case of closures due to winter weather, vaccination locations will reach out to individuals with appointments to reschedule. If you cannot safely get to your appointment, you can reschedule. Reach out to your location with specific questions."

Vaccine Options & Info

Which vaccines are available?

The two vaccines that are currently available are the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccine. The CDC website has more detailed information, click here. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has now been approved, but is not expected to be available in Massachusetts right away.

I have more questions about COVID 19 vaccinations, where can I go for information.

The CDC has a page dedicated to FAQs about the vaccination, click here.

Trouble Shooting - What to know.

When are new appointments being posted/opened?

Prep Mod, the State Vaccination sites, have been posting available appointments on Thursdays. CVS has been releasing appointments more sporatically.

Is there a cost and do I have to have insurance?

There is no cost for a vaccination. If you do not have insurance, when you sign up for an appointment online, there should be a box/section to select that says no insurance.

What problems have we seen, or do we anticipate running into?

Early on, we had some residents and volunteers tell us that were running into in issue on Prep Mod with insurance, where the system asked for the information and them prompted them to add a copy of their card. Residents and volunteers have been able to navigate around that by entering the info and skipping the add insurance piece, and were still able to register.

Some locations, such as Walgreens require one to have an online account to register. Some locations require an email address before proceeding. No two of these links are the same or require the “same” information which can be very challenging and confusing.

On Prep Mod, I went through the process and then I saw that there was no appointment available and I had to start over.

One of the things residents reported early on was going through the entire process on Prep Mod and then seeing that there were no appointments available (see image above to the right). When you search the Prep Mod system it will show you all locations offering a vaccination program on the day you selected. You may be able to select the blue registration button regardless of whether there are any open spaces.

Please look closely at two places: Additional Information and Available Appointments. Additional information will tell you who is eligible for a vaccination at that location, you are looking for it to say "Phase 2....age 75 or older" and not have any restrictions on where you live, some are only for residents in certain towns.

Next, look at the Available Appointments section and make sure the number is above 0. This can be very frustrating, because intuitively we think that if the location shows that means it is open for us to sign up, but that may not be the case.

Staying safe, protect yourself from Scams!

Questions about legitimacy of things related to COVID 19?

Check out the Federal Trade Commission's page for the most up-to-date information here.

I Need help!

Would you like a volunteer to reach out?

Please keep in mind that it may be a few days before you hear from a volunteer, but if you would like to be added to the list for assistance, please email use at coa@wellesleyma.gov or call us at (781) 235-3961.

When can I expect to hear from a volunteer?

Volunteers in our Town have been absolutely amazing. We have approximately 30 volunteers who have been vetted, cori'd, and trained available to assist any Wellesley Resident over the age of 65, or residents 60 and older with co-morbidities, or residents 60 and over who are teachers.

Over the past month, we have had more than 400 households in Town request assistance. Our volunteers have made appointments for approximately 225 households, and another 175 households have connected with appointments on their own, and we currently have 36 households where the Volunteers are in progress of connecting residents with appointments.

Once appointments have been booked, our volunteers have been working through our list of those we were in contact with to check in and make sure everyone is doing okay with their shot(s). So, if you work with a volunteer to get a shot, please expect that another volunteer might be in touch a few days after your shot to check-in and make sure everything is going well!

I need an Attestation form, and cannot print myself.

We will have blank attestation forms outside our front door at our office, 500 Washington Street, available for anyone to pick-up. They are now in a holder on the front of the building and are accessible any day/time.

I don't want to use a COA volunteer, but I need help, is there another option?

Yes, the State added the functionality to it's 2-1-1 Hotline to handle calls from Seniors over 75 who are without internet access. To learn more about that option to assist someone you know, please click here.

What do I need to know/do before my appointment?

What should I have on hand before I go for my appointment?

Some people experience flu like symptoms, so it may be a good idea to have extra fluids (such as Gatorade) on hand. A thermometer is always good to have too!

What questions will I be asked before I get the vaccine?

We have had several residents inquire about which questions are used in person before a person gets vaccinated. Below is the CDC Pre-vaccination checklist for your reference.

What do I need to know/do after my appointment?

I got my vaccine, I have concerns about the side effects, who do I call?

You should call your primary care doctor. Some locations, such as Fenway and Gillette, that are providing the vaccine also complete the above handout and provide a phone number at the bottom to call, check yours. If you don't have a primary care doctor, the phone number to call, or have more questions, you can contact the Wellesley Health Department at (781) 235-0135.

How do I stay safe?

Wear a mask

Whether you have had one dose, two doses, or no doses, please remember to wear a mask. Check updated guidance on mask wearing here.

Travel Guidelines Continue once vaccinated

At this time, vaccinated individuals must continue to follow the Governor’s Travel Order and related testing and quarantine requirements. It is important for everyone to continue using all the public health measures available to help stop this pandemic. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, stay at least 6 feet away from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often.

Social Distancing

According to the State's we While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, and staying at least 6 feet away from others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations for how to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19. Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide before deciding to change recommendations on steps everyone should take to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision. (source: Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC as of 12/21/20)

I want to stay up-to-date or have questions.

How to stay informed?

We will continue to send out information as it becomes available. We will continue to work with our volunteers to reach out to any seniors who have asked for assistance. We will stay positive and keep working to navigate the system to get everyone involved.

Which websites are the COA's go to?

The Town of Wellesley - COVID 19 Page

The CDC

State of Massachusetts COVID 19

Do you have an unanswered question?

If the answer is not here, and you cannot find it on the Town's site, you can click here to submit a question to us and we will see what we can do about getting answers and posting them in the next email blast.

Wellesley Council on Aging

781-235-3961

500 Washington St.
Wellesley, MA 02482

Please do not reply to this e-mail. For additional information please call the COA at 781-235-3961 or visit our website at www.wellesleycoa.org

COVID Vaccinations Updates - Revised Update 3/5/2021