Now that the newest round of updated COVID-19 vaccines have been approved, you might be wondering where in Berkshire County you can get it — and when.
There are many ways Berkshire County residents can access protection from the newest variants of the virus in the coming weeks, as well as influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
According to state data, during the most recent reporting period, from July 21 through Aug. 17, Berkshire County reported a rate of 155 cases per 100,000 people. That's above the state average of 130 cases per 100,000 people, and second only to Dukes and Nantucket counties, which reported 206.6 cases per 100,000.
Pittsfield's case rate of 229.9 cases per 100,000 is among the highest rates in the state, according to the data.
Two coalitions of public health agencies in the Berkshires are preparing for rollout. The Pittsfield Public Health Department is offering clinics and making a push for awareness among the city’s native Spanish speakers. At least one pharmacy chain serving the region says it has received a delivery of doses.
The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccines were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last Thursday.
Public health officials and advocates say it’s important to get vaccinated, especially for those who are more medically vulnerable: the elderly, the young and people with compromised immune systems. While the vaccine won’t fully prevent COVID, it will make cases less serious and prevent hospitalizations.
While CHP Berkshires’ Mobile Health unit will be offering vaccines to CHP and non-CHP patients once a supply of doses is in place, the nonprofit wants residents to not wait if another opportunity arises.
“We encourage everyone to get vaccines wherever they can in the meantime, so they can get protected as soon as possible against the latest strains of COVID,” spokeswoman Ellen Lahr said.
Laura Kittross is the public health program manager for the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, as well as director of the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association and the Berkshire Public Health Alliance. The latter group of 19 departments of public health “has been doing flu clinics forever,” she said.
The health alliance has already pre-ordered doses, and “as soon as they start shipping out, we’ll start giving it,” Kittross said. She expects that will start in late September, and says clinic hours and locations will be posted on the alliance’s website, getvaccinatedBerkshires.org.
“You can get the whole family vaccinated at the same time. People really appreciate that,” she said of the clinics. “I think that's easier for many families.”
According to Kittross, in past years the alliance has seen higher uptake among residents 75 and older — “the group we’re most worried about getting really sick,” she said. Uptake rates are lower among young children and younger adults, she said.
“If you get vaccinated you’re helping to protect older adults who may not have as robust an immune response,” she said. “As well as protecting yourself you’re helping to protect those most vulnerable people.”
“Hundreds of millions of these shots have been given at this point and there’s no evidence they’re not safer than having a COVID infection,” Kittross said. “Especially flu shots, which we know are one of the safest vaccines out there.”
In Pittsfield, Health Department Public Health Nurse Patricia Tremblay said the city has scheduled an information session at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at O.U.R. Resurge Community Center, at 117 Fenn St., and clinics starting 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Sept. 17 at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center.
Registration is available at home.color.com/vaccine/register/pittsfield.
“Each year we hope to get more people vaccinated because it’s good prevention for serious illness and hospitalization,” Tremblay said.
Tremblay said Greylock Federal Credit Union and Lee Savings Bank are providing their branches for clinic sites and supporting efforts to educate and vaccinate Pittsfield’s Hispanic population. A grant of about $40,000 in American Rescue Plan Act dollars is helping to fund the effort, which will include billboards in Spanish.
In South County, Jayne Smith, the shared services manager for Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative, said the coalition is hosting 16 mobile clinics throughout its 12 communities starting in early October, featuring the updated Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine, flu vaccines for children and adults, and high dose flu vaccine for seniors.
The registration link for these clinics is home.color.com/vaccine/register/tritown.
Registration sessions will be held in September, and registration assistance is available. A weekend clinic is being scheduled for those who can't attend a weekday session.
The collaborative, working with the local Council on Aging in each of its towns, will also provide in-home vaccinations for persons who have difficulty leaving the house. “Last year we administered in-home/homebound vaccines to 39 individuals and expect that number to grow as people become aware of this program,” she said.
Those needing an in-home visit should call 413-243-5540, extension 109, and leave a message, Smith said.
Pharmacies at Big Y Supermarkets, CVS and Walgreens will also offer vaccinations this fall.
Big Y is offering appointments for COVID, influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) at bigy.com/pharmacy/vaccinations.
Amy Thibault, a spokeswoman for CVS Health, said many of the company’s 9,000-plus locations have received initial shipments. “Once vaccine supply arrives at one of our pharmacies, walk-ins are accepted. Our digital scheduler is being updated with available vaccination appointments as well,” she said in an email.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Bridge Access Program, which provided no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults, has ended. However, Thibault noted that the vaccine remains no-cost through most insurance plans if the pharmacy is in network.
“Some payer systems may not be updated right away, and patients may opt to return at a later date, rather than pay cash and submit to their insurance plan for reimbursem*nt,” she said.
Walgreens, on its website, announced it “stands ready to offer updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines at stores nationwide.”
The company said people can schedule appointments now, with appointments starting nationwide on Friday, Sept. 6. Additional appointments will be added daily as inventory arrives, the company said.
