Braintree Mayor Angered By Halt In Vaccine Distribution To Towns

BRAINTREE, MA — Gov. Charlie Baker's decision to halt coronavirus vaccine deliveries to local health departments has not sat well with Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros.

In an interview Wednesday, Kokoros argued Baker's decision creates unnecessary difficulties for the town's most vulnerable residents to get vaccinated.

"Disappointed is an understatement," Kokoros said. "We have worked really hard to provide a local option for vaccinations, as we do with our flu clinics, so residents, especially those 75 and over, don't have to travel long distances to get a vaccination. This will certainly diminish the ability for many of these individuals to get vaccinated as quickly as possible."

In a news conference Wednesday, Baker said cities and towns will no longer be provided with first dose vaccines, starting March 1. He said the priority for distribution will be mass vaccination sites and retail pharmacies. Baker argued this will be the most efficient way to vaccinate people with the state opening vaccinations for residents over 65 and people with two or more serious illnesses.

"The big message we got from the public was: 'Vaccinate! Vaccinate!'" Baker said. "There's no question the fastest way to do this is with high-volume sites."

Towns are still expected to get enough vaccines to give out second doses for people already vaccinated, but Kokoros said the town didn't receive a vaccine shipment this week.

So far, more than 1,200 Braintree residents have received their first dose of the vaccine, Kokoros said.

Kokoros said some of the vaccines distributed came through a partnership with Brewster Ambulance Service. The mayor said his goal is to keep clinics running while working with Brewster as partner.

"It is of the utmost importance to vaccinate our elderly population and not make it a challenge for them to get to a vaccination location," Kokoros said. "I will continue to fight to keep vaccines and vaccinations available in the Town of Braintree"