Martha's Vineyard Hospital will open up 606 more appointments for third dose Covid-19 vaccines at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Cases of Covid-19 began creeping up on the Island again this week, with 20 new cases confirmed since Saturday, including 10 on Thursday alone.
Meanwhile, Martha's Vineyard Hospital said they would open 606 more appointments for third-dose Covid-19 vaccine shots on Friday at 3 p.m. People 65 or older who have had two previous Pfizer doses and people with compromised immune systems are eligible to make appointments for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in each of the next two weeks.
Signups are available on the hospital website, or by going to https://covidvaccine.massgeneralbrigham.org/.
As of Thursday, 307 people had received third-dose booster shots from the hospital. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are seeking emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to provide booster shots, but only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved to date.
Covid cases had been declining on Martha's Vineyard for several weeks, but began to inch up again last week, with the Island boards of health reporting 11 new cases of Covid-19 for the week ending Saturday, Oct. 2, up three from the previous week. Ten more new cases were reported between Sunday and Wednesday, then 10 more on Thursday.
In the latest weekly report issued Monday, health agents said two of the 11 cases for last week were children under 11, one was a child between 11 and 19, six were adults between 20 and 39 and two were adults between 60 and 69. Five were people who were fully vaccinated, five were unvaccinated individuals and one was unknown.
The boards of health report said seven of the cases last week were diagnosed by PCR tests taken at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, three were from TestMV and one from another provider. Ten of the cases were symptomatic and one was unknown. One additional probable cases was reported from an over-the-counter test.
Comments
It's great that booster doses
Marjorie Spitz AquinnahIt's great that booster doses are being offered here in ever increasing numbers since new studies have revealed that the first two doses have already decreased in effectiveness. However, making internet access the only way to secure an appointment and limiting announcements of the rollout to the two newspapers is yet another moment when our hospital has marginalized those who don't have the resources for internet service or a computer or a cell phone (there really are still people out there who are not "connected"). I had no trouble making my own appointment and getting inoculated, but I spent over an hour calling elderly friends who had no way of knowing boosters were available here and then no way of making an appointment. Once they managed to reach a real person by telephone, they were told that the only way to make an appointment was with a computer. Of course other community agencies can take up the slack, get the word out and make appointments, but the hospital should have this most needy demographic front and center on their radar and come up with a solution before the next crisis arises.
Simply calling the Hospital
Corn Fused Vineyard HavenSimply calling the Hospital to schedule your vaccination is an option. 508-684-4500
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