Hospitals given permission to administer COVID-19 vaccines to all staff Share Updated: 5:36 PM EST Jan 22, 2021
Hospitals given permission to administer COVID-19 vaccines to all staff Share Updated: 5:36 PM EST Jan 22, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript VACCINE PRIORITIES. HOSPITAL WORKERS WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH PATIENTS WHERE THE FIRST TO GET THE VACCINE LAST MONTH. RECENTLY, THE STATE EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY TO INCLUDE HOSPITAL WORKERS WHO CARE FOR ALL PATIENTS, CORONAVIRUS OR NOT. THE STATES WEBSITE SHOWED HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS, BACK OFFICE STAFF AND PEOPLE WORKING REMOTELY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE FIRST PHASE OF VACCINATIONS. ANYBODY WHO IS REMOTE CAN BE CALLED IN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE DROPPED THE EXCLUSION FOR SUPPORT STAFF. IN A NOTICE TO HOSPITALS, OFFICIALS SAY THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY START VACCINATING ALL PAID STAFF, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE REMOTELY WORKING. HE SAYS THIS WILL AVOID H
Chris Lisinski
State House News Service
BOSTON Massachusetts will scrap a controversial mandate that students across all age groups receive flu vaccines, officials announced Friday, walking back a months-old policy that the Baker administration had pitched as permanent.
The state Department of Public Health updated its immunization requirement guidance on Friday to eliminate a requirement that students in childcare programs, preschools, K-12 schools, and higher education receive a flu vaccine to attend their educational programs.
“The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education,” DPH spokesperson Kathleen Conti said in a statement. “Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19.
GREAT BARRINGTON â A COVID outbreak at Timberlyn Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation Center that began earlier this month has shaved staff levels down to a skeleton crew, and the state has sent a rapid response team to help.
As of Jan. 19, 28 employees and 25 residents are infected at the facility off Route 23, according to a text message obtained by The Eagle.
The notification, which was sent to all staff, residents and their guardians or families from Administrator Christopher Duncan, also said some staff will be returning from quarantine over the next few days. The vast majority of residents and staff received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 5, according to another message from Duncan sent on Jan. 13. Two clinics for second doses are scheduled for Jan. 26 and Feb. 6. Duncan also said the facility is working with Berkshire Medical Center to provide monoclonal antibody therapy for those residents who are eligible and consent; the therapy will be used in th
Want more Concord Journal news? Subscribe here.
The vaccination clinic at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School was activated from Jan. 15-17, assisting first responders from six towns in getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Overall, 420 people – firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, school nurses, council on aging directors and social work staff from Concord, Carlisle, Bedford, Lincoln, Maynard and Sudbury received the first shot of the Moderna vaccine.
Concord Health Director Susan Rask told the Board of Health on Jan. 20 it was successful.
“It really was our trial run to see if we could make it work,” Rask said. “We had a few little hiccups but we worked them through and we got some ideas for how to make it more efficient next time. I feel like it was a success and I feel good about it.”