I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources. I hope that you were able to join me, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Dr. Bronwyn MacInnis, Director of the Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Dr. Paul Biddinger, Chair of the state’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Board, and Dr. Assaad Sayah, CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance for a Town Hall meeting on Vaccines this evening. The video is available at cctvcambridge.org/channel09, cctvcambridge.org/youtube, and facebook.com/cctvcambridge.
The Baker Administration wants to remind Massachusetts residents to ensure that they check their texts, emails, voicemails, and spam folder for potential preregistration updates. Once notices go out, they will have a limited time to schedule their vaccination appointment.
Mass DPH’s Video Campaign on Getting Vaccinated
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) shared a video on the reasons why real residents of Massachusetts got their vaccine. Watch the video here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine here.
Mass DPH’s Community Impact Survey
One in four Massachusetts workers lost their jobs, had to reduce their work hours, or took a leave from work during the pandemic. These individuals were likely to report worrying about expenses such as housing, debt, and childcare. You can learn more in the latest findings from the Massachusetts DPH’s Community Impact Survey here.
More Than 100 U.S. Colleges Will Require COVID-19 Vaccinations to Attend In-person Classes in the Fall
Over 100 colleges across the nation have shared that they will require students to receive COVID vaccines in order to attend in-person classes in the fall. Read more here.
The CDC Eases Rules for Cruises, Allowing Trips by Mid-July
The CDC shared that cruise ships can restart sailing throughout the United States by mid-July. Read more here.
2021 City of Cambridge Outstanding Employee of the Year Award
Acting Fire Chief Mahoney of Cambridge Firefighters IAFF/PFFM Local 30 has announced that three members of this department have been selected to receive the 2021 City of Cambridge Outstanding Employee of The Year Award: Deputy Chief Ray Vaillancourt, Captain Kenneth Flibotte, and Lieutenant Michael Donovan. A virtual ceremony will take place on Friday May 14, 2021 at 9:30 AM. Information on the Zoom Link and instructions will be sent prior to the event. Read more here.
COVID-19 Housing Stabilization Program
The COVID-19 Housing Stabilization Program provides short term financial assistance to individuals and families in Cambridge who are experiencing housing instability. New applicants are encouraged to apply. Learn more here.
May 7 Deadline for Small Business Grants
An additional $600,000 in grants for Cambridge small businesses is available through the City’s Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority. Grant applications accepted from Wednesday, April 14, 2021 until Friday, May 7, 2021. Read more here.
Council on Aging Homebound Vaccination Program
The homebound vaccination program is for people who would not otherwise be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless they receive it in their home. It does not include individuals who are temporarily homebound; and/or able to leave the home with adequate assistance; or those who would prefer to get a vaccine in their home. If you meet the definition for homebound, or know someone who does, please call the Cambridge Council on Aging (CoA) at 617-349-6220. Learn more here.
Translation Resources Available
Multilingual city resources and information on COVID-19 are available on the City's multilingual help page.
MA Vaccination Updates
Vaccine Eligibility Open to All Adults
All Massachusetts residents aged 16 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, people under the age of 18 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine and there are certain steps these individuals should take prior to scheduling their appointment. Learn more here.
Preparing for your Vaccination Appointment
Learn about how you can prepare for your vaccination appointment here
Resources for Booking and Getting to Your Appointment
Online: Preregister for mass vaccination sites at vaccinesignup.mass.gov. All state vaccination sites are online at vaxfinder.mass.gov/, or you can book directly with a pharmacy at cvs.com or walgreens.com. You can also visit macovidvaccines.com, which is not an official site but is more user-friendly than the state site.
Phone: Call 2-1-1 between 8:30 AM-8:00 PM Monday-Thursday or 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Friday-Sunday and select the prompt for “help scheduling a vaccine appointment.” This multilingual service is for residents who don’t have Internet access or have trouble using the Internet.
Need help? For detailed information about how to make an appointment, including updates about specific health care providers, see the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services vaccine resources page. You can also visit macovidvaxhelp.com, which is an unofficial site staffed by volunteers for eligible individuals who are unable to book vaccine appointments on their own.
Need a ride?
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is offering free transportation for local adults aged 60+ to COVID-19 vaccination sites in Cambridge and Somerville as well as Fenway Park and CHA Malden. For more information, click here. To register for a ride, call SCES at 617-628-2601 or email info@eldercare.org.
All MassHealth members or Health Safety Net patients can get free transportation to COVID-19 vaccine appointments. You can request transportation for a scheduled appointment by calling (800) 841-2900. You may find additional information on transportation help here.
The City of Cambridge has published accessibility information for the state’s mass vaccination sites. You can find it here.
Don’t forget to book your second appointment while you’re getting your first dose!
Massachusetts is currently in Phase Three of the vaccine rollout. For more details and updates on vaccination priorities, please visit mass.gov/CovidVaccine.
For more details and updates on vaccination priorities, please visit mass.gov/CovidVaccine.
The state has created an interactive dashboard, including the percentage of COVID-19 positive cases and testing rates by city and town. The dashboard can be viewed here.
For Harvard University COVID-19 information, click here.
If you or a loved one are struggling, please know that you are not alone. Here are some great resources:
Where to Give
On Fridays, Cambridge CoHousing will be collecting food either in a paper bag or small box for the Chelsea Food Collaborative. Drop off is between 9 AM and 2:30 PM at the entrance to CoHousing at 175 Richdale Ave, Cambridge, MA. If you don't see someone at the moment you arrive, please leave it just inside the gate where we will have boxes marked "For Chelsea."
If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to additional places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:
