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Just a few moments ago I joined several House colleagues in sending a letter to @MassGovernor expressing our deep concerns with the vaccine roll out. See letter and synopsis below. #MAPoli #publichealthmatters
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Many residents face insurmountable barriers to scheduling their vaccination appointments due to the digital divide from limited English proficiency, hearing and/or visual impairment, no family members nearby, no broadband access & those who have been historically marginalized. 2/
We need more supports to help families navigate the cumbersome scheduling system, which is overwhelmed and overloaded.
Our local public health leaders have the expertise that is needed for rolling out large-scale vaccination programs, but are underutilized and underfunded.
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Our local public health leaders have the expertise that is needed for rolling out large-scale vaccination programs, but are underutilized and underfunded.
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The current promise of 100 doses/week per BoH is wholly insufficient. Local health departments have been flooded w/ phone calls to the point that their phone systems have failed. Constituents, particularly those who are the most vulnerable are frustrated, scared, and confused. 4/
Before COVID, health departments were understaffed. Now they have to hire personnel to staff vaccine clinics but the ramp up (once they know they are getting vaccine) could take 3-4 weeks in some cities/towns. 5/
Essential workers have buoyed the economy during the pandemic. Janitorial staff, warehouse employees, farm workers, and service industry staff who have worked throughout 2020, either through mandate or financial necessity, have put own health and safety on the line. 6/
These critical jobs are disproportionately held by people with lower incomes, those from racial and ethnic minority groups, and are people more likely to live in multigenerational households. Yet these essential workers were moved to a lower priority on the vaccination list. 7/
We must ensure access to higher quality, medical grade personal protective equipment for our essential workers to protect them from becoming infected, especially as they wait for vaccination in the midst of an emerging, more contagious strain of COVID-19. 8/
Extending vaccination and PPE information to this group of workers will require translation and interpretation in multiple languages and specialized outreach. 9/
We must consider longterm impacts of prolonged underinvestment in public health. 1 in 8 Americans lives in community where public health leaders left their posts during COVID. We risk further demoralizing & alienating PH leaders by not providing needed $$, staff & resources. 10/
Municipalities and allied organizations need additional logistical and financial support and other resources. As legislators, we do our part to let public know that our municipal leaders & public health directors are doing all that they can with limited info and resources. 11/
Our allied organizations, such as Councils on Aging, United Ways, cultural and faith orgs, anti-poverty agencies and other trusted community entities have built rapport w/ seniors and marginalized populations -- they can and should play a critical role in vaccination program. 12/
Additionally, we need investments in transportation, language access, and telephonic options to ensure seniors, immigrant families & low-income families can access the vaccine to protect themselves and reduce the spread of COVID-19. 13/
Lack of healthcare personnel to meet this unprecedented vaccination need requires expansion of training to include non-traditional vaccination volunteers and staff. We can reduce barriers to getting EMTs, police, and other volunteers deployed at local vaccination clinics. 14/
DPH communications regarding the vaccination implementation lack clarity and are too often combined with short notice of major changes. There have been 2x/week updates, but rarely enough time for questions. The command structure remains confusing/unclear. 15/
Pharmacies and doctors continue to lack vital information about the vaccine distribution, while the role of the rest of the healthcare system is unclear. We need written directives to all health departments and municipal leaders. 16/
We are racing against time to protect ourselves from COVID-19 given the emergence of the newer strains which are more contagious and may be more deadly. The people of Massachusetts deserve better answers than "check the website". 17/ #MApoli
TY for your partnership @Rep_Higgins @christina4rep @TeamTram @erika4rep @CarolDoherty13 @RepDuBois @JimHawkins4Rep @RepAdamScanlon.
And TY to public health policy fellow @KPMcDonald for thought partnership! 18/
And TY to public health policy fellow @KPMcDonald for thought partnership! 18/
