UPDATE: Marlborough’s state vaccine site won’t open, March 1. Reached for comment early on this original target date for opening, Mayor Arthur Vigeant told the Community Advocate that his office is still waiting on state approval. He would not speculate on if and when that approval will come.
By Vicki Greene, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – If all goes according to plan, Marlborough will soon have a state vaccination site open for not only the city’s residents, but all Massachusetts citizens.
Mayor Arthur Vigeant informed the City Council at its Feb. 22 meeting that the city has been working with the Baker-Polito Administration on a detailed plan for a “mini-mega” vaccination site to open on March 1 at the Courtyard by Marriott Boston Marlborough. The hotel, which is currently closed, is located at 75 Felton Street, near the intersection of Route 20 and I-495. The city submitted the final proposal to the administration Feb. 22.
“We’re excited,” Vigeant said. “We want to get as many vaccines in arms as we can.”
That said, he explained that this will be a destination site which means it is not only for Marlborough residents, but as a state site, it will be open, by appointment, to all who sign up through the state’s website www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.
The Marlborough location, if approved, will distribute 750 doses per day and will accept the state’s Phase 2 populations which includes those ages 65-plus.
UMass Memorial-Marlborough Hospital, along with Board of Health Director John Garside and the Mayor’s Aide Patricia Bernard, has been working with the state on the plan for implementation.
The “mini-mega” site will be staffed by hospital personnel and the city will provide some limited volunteer staff for traffic control at the hotel site. Fully aware that there have been issues with appointments through the state’s website, Vigeant said that if any senior residents have trouble accessing the website or lack the appropriate technology, they can contact the Senior Center for help.
According to the mayor’s office, the Courtyard by Marriott location is currently closed for business until April 1, due to COVID-19. Once the hotel reopens, the city hopes to be continuing using space there for the clinics, for a minimum of two months. All of this is, of course, dependent on the city receiving more vaccines.
No additional first vaccines to be given at Senior Center
Over 1,000 eligible residents have received their first vaccine doses at the city’s Senior Center and will be able to get their second dose there as well. Due to a change in the state’s policy, no more first doses will be given at the Senior Center.
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