With the impact of the new Omicron variant still unknown, cases of Covid-19 on the Island are back on the upswing, with 48 more people confirmed positive for the virus in just five days.
With the impact of the new Omicron variant still unknown, cases of Covid-19 on the Island are back on the upswing, with 48 more people confirmed positive for the virus in just five days.
“We were expecting to see an uptick in the numbers when the holidays came, and our numbers are way up,” Tisbury health agent Maura Valley said in a phone interview Thursday. “I think we’re beginning to see the holiday surge.”
Cases had been climbing slowly on the Vineyard since early November. In their weekly report issued Monday, the Island boards of health said that in the week ending Saturday, Nov. 27, 19 people had received positive PCR tests for Covid-19 and three more had tested positive in over-the-counter tests.
Eighteen of the cases were in people who were fully vaccinated, and six of the 19 cases were part of a cluster at an unidentified construction site. Tradesmen from two different companies were affected, Ms. Valley said, adding that no new cases had been linked to that cluster.
But following Thanksgiving, from Sunday through Thursday, case numbers shot up with 48 more people confirmed to have the virus through PCR tests and nine more considered probable based on over-the-counter tests, according to the boards of health. The case spike mirrored the trend statewide, where 4,838 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday alone.
Ms. Valley said the boards of health have not been given new guidance from the state since the emergence internationally of the Omicron variant. As of Thursday, only two cases of the variant had been identified in the United States.
“We really don’t have enough information to make any informed decisions right now,” she said. “We’re just waiting for guidance from the Department of Public Health.”
Vaccines for the coronavirus, including third dose booster shots, are being made available by appointment at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. A new batch of appointments is released each Friday at 4 p.m. on the hospital’s online scheduling platform at https://covidvaccine.massgeneralbrigham.org. First and second-dose vaccines are available for anyone five years of age and older; people 18 and older are eligible for third dose booster shots.
As of Tuesday, 14,776 people had been vaccinated at the hospital and 2,793 had been given a third booster shot.
Ms. Valley urged people to get vaccinated, get a booster when eligible and wear masks when in public places.
“I am concerned with the holiday parties and social events,” she said. “I think people assume these events are safe and that is not necessarily the case. It just makes sense to take precautions.”

Comments
… I cannot get my booster
Yeager Round Resident Edgartown… I cannot get my booster because I cannot find an appointment. Is this problem, a lack of boosters, going to be fixed anytime soon?
A medically equipped bus
Dan West TisA medically equipped bus offering free vaccines and booster shots will return to the Island next weekend, the Island boards of health announced.
The bus will be parked at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Covid-19 vaccines will be available for children ages 5 and older and booster shots will be available for adults.
Advance registration is required at home.color.com/vaccine/register/yankeeline.
This is an option. Schedule
Matt Poole Edgartown Bd of HealthThis is an option. Schedule here: https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2021/12/03/mobile-vaccine-bus-returns
I was able to schedule a
MaryI was able to schedule a Covid booster on CVS.COM quickly & easily for the next day at the CVS on Davis Straights Rd. It just a supply/demand issue.
I’ve been trying to schedule
Jeff A.I’ve been trying to schedule a booster for a few weeks now with no luck. The website never has any openings. Not sure what to do.
A medically equipped bus
Dan West TisA medically equipped bus offering free vaccines and booster shots will return to the Island next weekend, the Island boards of health announced.
The bus will be parked at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Covid-19 vaccines will be available for children ages 5 and older and booster shots will be available for adults.
Advance registration is required at home.color.com/vaccine/register/yankeeline.
Every Friday at 4pm, they
Elizabeth EdgartownEvery Friday at 4pm, they release new openings to sign up. Start checking around 3:45pm. I finally got in.
This is an option. Schedule
Matt Poole Edgartown Bd of HealthThis is an option. Schedule here: https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2021/12/03/mobile-vaccine-bus-returns
Thank you everyone for your
Jeff AThank you everyone for your help and information. When the first vaccination rolled out there was so much helpful information about when new appointments would become available etc. and I hadn’t seen any similar information for this round.
The Thanksgiving holiday
Susan. Bucks CountyThe Thanksgiving holiday spike? Full ferries and full houses?
I too had to go off-island to
Marie Laursen VHI too had to go off-island to get a booster. In light of the fact that our hospital has rural care status and serves many elderly/ immunocompromised patients, it is unconscionable that we have a chronic shortage of appointments available. I think the hospital owes this community an explanation as to why they are unable to fully serve this population who wants to do the right thing by getting vaccinated. It is time to step up to the plate, MVH.
So, how many boosters do you
Jay Brennan MenemshaSo, how many boosters do you think we will have to take since we know the efficacy of the vaccine antibodies don’t last very long? Will we be taking boosters the rest of our lives.
Do we get a flu shot every
Jackie Chilmark and NYCDo we get a flu shot every year? Do we get our teeth cleaned every 6 months? Do we women get a yearly mammogram? Sometimes, once is not enough.
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