Three Central Mass. hospitals included in $5M COVID vaccine program for minority communities

Photo | TMS Aerial Solutions Harrington Hospital in Southbridge

Write a Comment

Three Central Massachusetts hospitals are part of a new state initiative announced Wednesday targeting COVID-19 vaccine distribution in communities hardest hit by the pandemic.

Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester will work in one collaborative with Worcester State University and UMass Medical School's Commonwealth Medicine, with a vaccine center at Worcester State's fitness center. Harrington Hospital will also work with the Southbridge Board of Health and Heywood Hospital with the Gardner Board of Health. The Town of Rutland is also in its own vaccine program.

The $4.7-million initiative announced Wednesday comes just over a week after the Baker Administration identified 20 cities and towns — including Fitchburg, Framingham, Leominster and Worcester — for extra resources to make it easier to get vaccinated and help raise awareness of the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. Communities were chosen by the highest coronavirus case rates and highest rates of minority populations, among other factors.

The state Department of Public Health said it will assist each community by helping to coordinate care with local boards of health, community health centers, and community and faith-based organizations, among others.

The new funding announced Wednesday aides that program, as well as the state's $2.5-million public awareness campaign called "Trust the Facts, Get the Vax."

Nearly 1.5 million vaccine doses have been given statewide through Tuesday, according to DPH. That includes roughly 415,000 people that have received the necessary two doses.