Salem Plans To Offer Homebound Seniors Mobile Vaccinations

SALEM, MA —A year ago, Salem Together contacted more than 6,000 seniors with well-being checks as part of an annual outreach campaign.

The hope is that this year's Salem Together efforts could be more widespread, and potentially consequential, as the campaign will be used to give seniors updates on coronavirus vaccination opportunities and help the city's efforts to vaccinate homebound or vaccine-hesitant seniors.

The city is also asking seniors who cannot attend a vaccination clinic to register for consideration for mobile vaccine delivery.

"This week we reactivated that effort to help get the word out about COVID vaccine eligibility — and we're looking for volunteers to join us," Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll posted on her social medial account. "As more vaccine becomes available we want to be able to share information and this is one way to do it."

Driscoll said last week a group of 30 volunteers reached out to more than 1,100 seniors in the city.

"Whether you can place 10 calls or a hundred every one will help share info with Salem seniors," Driscoll said.

The city is also asking homebound seniors, or their family or caretaker, who cannot make it to a vaccination clinic to register to be considered for mobile vaccine delivery when it is available.

This registration is only available to Salem residents age 65 and older who are medically home- or bed-bound.

Registration can be done online here or through calling the Salem Council on Aging at 978-744-0924.

Those who wish to be considered for at-home vaccine delivery are asked to register before noon on Friday.

Gov. Charlie Baker said last week with more vaccination efforts being focused on the mass vaccination sites — such as the Danvers DoubleTree Hotel megasite — individual municipalities will be asked to identify individuals who cannot attend a clinic or are not being reached through other public efforts.

Anyone willing to donate their time to call is asked to contact together@salem.com.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)