Nearly 100 Cape Officials Call For More Coronavirus Vaccines

BARNSTABLE, MA — Nearly 100 state and local officials on Cape Cod wrote to Gov. Charlie Baker calling for more coronavirus vaccinations in Barnstable County.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Cape Cod has received 22,000 COVID-19 vaccines. Officials said 11.7 percent of the county's residents have received their first dose, but they worry not enough residents over 75 have been able to get vaccinated.

Gov. Charlie Baker said in his Wednesday news conference that Barnstable County is second in the number of first doses distributed so far, trailing only Berkshire County.

"The thing to remember here is that Barnstable does have a collaborative in place," Baker said. "It might feel more like a competition to the people who are in it, but it is a collaborative. They are currently sitting at 14.2 percent of their population vaccinated."

According to the 2019 American Community Survey, Barnstable County is the oldest county by age in Massachusetts. The survey said 13 percent of the Cape's population is 75 or older, while nearly 17 percent are 65-74. Officials said these percentages are more than twice that of the rest of the state. Cape officials said they need 55,000 doses to vaccinate all Cape Codders over 75, and they need the registration process to be more accessible for seniors.

"Since you extended vaccination into Phase 2, our shared constituents over the age of 75 have had to navigate a vaccination registration process where the fittest and most tech-savvy get access to a vaccine and those more vulnerable are left out," said state Senators Julian Cyr, Sarah Peake and other state and local officials in a joint statement. "A difficult to decipher website and a well-intentioned but overburdened 2-1-1 call system may work when vaccines are available in your community, but when the burden of scheduling a vaccination includes having to find transportation to a site over an hour's drive away, it becomes an immense hardship."

To make vaccines more widely available on the Cape, officials asked for three actions from the Baker administration. They include:

Establish a Mass Vaccination Site at Cape Cod Community College

Cape officials said they've discussed creating the site with the Baker administration, but no progress has been made.

Increase Vaccine Allocation on Cape Cod

The county created regional vaccine clinics in Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis and Orleans, with plans for a site in Truro in two weeks. But officials said the region is receiving just 975 doses a week. Officials said they need a more consistent and larger supply of doses.

Deliver Vaccines to Local Boards of Health

Officials said local boards of health have coordinated with councils on Aging, police, fire and other departments in their respective towns to identify the most vulnerable older adults. Municipalities are working with Cape Cod Healthcare, community health centers, and Barnstable County to reach home bound and vulnerable older adults who are not able to access the current vaccine scheme. Local officials want state assistance with this.