2021 highlights
December 20, 2021
- On December 18, seven cities including Boston (Mattapan), Brockton, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Malden and Randolph held clinics for the Haitian community to get vaccinated. Preliminary results show more than 250 doses were administered including 40 first doses. Several partners made this possible including the Haitian American Business Expo, Inc / U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce, the Authentic Caribbean Foundation, Immigrant Family Services Institute, and others. Clinics included Haitian and Caribbean food and music and offered $25 supermarket gift cards. This initiative was sponsored by DPH and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Clinic in Everett (left) and in Brockton (right)
December 14, 2021
- Somali Parent Advocacy Center for Education (based in Boston, serving the Somali community in Boston and Everett) held a COVID-19 Q&A webinar with Muslim doctors, in collaboration with the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects the Academic Public Health Corps, and the Massachusetts Health Officers Association with about 30 people in attendance.
- Immigrants Assistance Center based in New Bedford has continued to reach workers at worksites to promote COVID-19 vaccines and pop-up clinics. They have visited six worksites during their lunch hours that employ up to 300 people to discuss COVID-19 vaccines boosters, those for children ages 5+, as well as registering people for future vaccine clinics. Six pop-up vaccine clinics have been held across 30 worksites in the New Bedford area to date, with at least two more clinics planned.
November 30
- Lawrence and Methuen launched a contest with giveaways, open to their residents ages 5-24. The contest is being advertised in English and Spanish (see attached) during school vaccination clinics and community clinics in November and December.
- In Brockton, the Downtown Brockton Association held a clinic at a holiday fair; 32 were vaccinated. Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito are due to get their booster shots in Brockton on 12/3.
- Everett held a vaccine clinic at a Stop & Shop; 400 people were vaccinated.
- Leominster will continue to host family/community clinics at the library; 300+ residents were recently registered.
- Revere had its first health department-sponsored pediatric clinics, including family-friendly ideas such as a face painter and support dog; 54 people were vaccinated.
- Extreme Science Kid in Springfield will host its Kid Conference & Christmas Party with science experiments and gifts, at a DPH-supported site for family vaccination
- Lowell will hold 3 clinics in Centralville, the least vaccinated area of the city.
November 16
- Last week, Haverhill partners hosted a COVID-19 booster clinic where more than 180 vaccine doses were administered and Haverhill Public Schools have started a series of after-school/evening vaccination clinics at four middle schools.
- The Worcester Public Library’s main branch is hosting a month-long series of Monday and Saturday vaccination clinics; residents can show their new vaccine card at the Welcome Desk and library staff will forgive any lost library items.
November 9
- This past weekend, Leominster held their first booster clinic at the Leominster Senior Center and vaccinated 108 people with help from Brewster Ambulance Company.
- Boston is currently implementing a school-based peer-driven Youth Vaccine Ambassador program; it is being stood up at seven high schools across city neighborhoods.
- In the first week of a transition in New Bedford from its seasonal block by block strategy to its indoor family clinic site at the McCoy center, the team vaccinated 94 people at one clinic. On Monday November 8, 119 shots were administered at McCoy.
- Next weekend begins a multi weekend vaccination event in Lawrence with the help of the VEI Outreach and Engagement team; it will pilot the City’s refer-a-friend incentive program featuring Walmart gift cards for bringing others to get vaccinated.
- Worcester’s #PostVaxLife youth/young adult (Worcester residents ages 18-22) vaccination campaign continues this week where it can be seen on local billboards, posters and buses.
Images from Worcester’s #PostVaxLife campaign
November 2
- Randolph is helping to spread the word about the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, by creating this video in Haitian Creole with help from the US Haitian Chamber of Commerce.
Still from @habexpo's video on Twitter - Methuen has partnered with Greater Lawrence Family Health Center to host school- based Vax Days at the Methuen schools.
- Fitchburg Public Schools News produced and released a video encouraging vaccination that features Spanish- and English-speaking student “newscasters” interviewing community leaders.
- Lowell hosted a Community Celebration, supported by community partners like Health Alliance, Elder Services of Merrimack Valley, and UMass Lowell, where 64 people got vaccinated. Multi-lingual services and free food were part of the event.
Fall River’s youth vaccination campaign offered two winners new bicycles
October 25
- This week’s Fall River’s youth vaccination campaign drew community and media attention when the Director for the United Way of Greater Fall River rode around the City on one of two prize bicycles with a cowbell and announced the winners (with names taped to the back of his tee shirt).
- Local boards of health in Lowell, Lawrence and Fitchburg are co-locating vaccination clinics at family-centered Halloween events on upcoming weekends
- On Sunday, Haverhill hosted its second dose clinic with the Haverhill Latino Coalition, where 24 people received vaccines and another seven people received J&J doses. Haverhill had a 2-week increase of +1.9 percentage points in LatinX first dose rate, compared to +1.6 percentage points statewide.
- The outreach team in Fitchburg/Leominster developed a QR code that takes users to a website where they can sign up for a clinic and get vaccine information and educational materials.
Fall River "Youth Vax" giveaway winner
October 18
- Lawrence continues to coordinate neighborhood canvassing with clinicians offering vaccines; they report engaging with 10 residents per day to be vaccinated with this approach. Lawrence had a two-week increase in first dose rates of +2.0 percentage points – double the statewide increase.
- In Fall River, the city and United Way of Greater Fall River are collaborating on a series of vaccination clinics at schools across the city to increase the vaccination rate among young people. Prizes to be given out each Friday this month include TVs, bikes and iPads, plus gift cards for youth who refer a friend to sign up and get vaccinated.
- Brockton hosted a pop-up vaccination clinic at a community carnival where 43 youth were vaccinated and so were six adults identifying as homeless or housing unstable.
- The City of Leominster team and its community partners are collaborating with local sports organizations, including the local Dek Hockey League, to coordinate vaccine clinics geared toward the youth population.
Lynn is hosting pop-up clinics this month
October 12
- In Lynn, the organization “Leading Through Empowering Opportunities,” or LEO, plans six pop-up vaccine clinics for 400 families and the public. With Salem State University students, they handed out 650 tote bags with PPE and vaccination facts – to be distributed at these clinics and via the Lynn Public Schools.
- Catholic Social Services of Fall River (serving immigrants and people who are homeless/housing insecure) hosted their annual back-to-school event for members of their homeless shelter where they had a cookout and distributed backpacks, with a partner organization administering vaccines.
"Annual Back 2 School Supply Drive" in Randolph
- In Lowell, the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell helped with a back-to-school event with Lowell Public Schools, and held an event called Nom Banh Chok (after a Cambodian noodle dish). They held one-on-one discussions to help facilitate vaccinations, even making appointments and driving three people to Walgreens to get the COVID test and vaccine.
- In Randolph, the organization Autism Sprinter partnered with the Rise Extended Day Program and the Motivation Church for the 3rd “Annual Back 2 School Supply Drive.” In addition to hundreds of donated school supplies for Randolph Public Schools, Autism Sprinter distributed 213 hand sanitizers, 302 masks, and 71 boxes of Clorox to help schools open safely.
Brockton vaccine clinic
October 4
- Over the October 2-3 weekend, a team of partners in Brockton hosted a clinic at the Universal Missionary Church where more than 20 residents received vaccination.
- New Bedford is hosting a National Night Out community event this week, including a police helicopter landing, presented by local law enforcement with a promoted vaccination opportunity.
- The Haverhill Latino Coalition hosted a weekend clinic where 37 residents were vaccinated; the event was promoted via increased engagement with local faith leaders.
- DPH team members visited the Encore casino in Everett to answer questions and schedule vaccine appointments for staff members; over 25 people were engaged.
- A number of events featured opportunities for vaccination in Lawrence over the weekend of October 2-3, including the “Meet Your Heroes” fallen soldiers' tribute, a youth soccer jamboree in So. Lawrence, and a community block party in North Lawrence.
- The Framingham Vaccine Equity Planning Group gathered at the Greater Framingham Community Church, where thousands of residents obtained their vaccine, to celebrate the accomplishments and the work to promote education and access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Padre Joel Almono
September 27
- Lawrence launched a Spanish public service announcement featuring 10 faith-based leaders and partners urging vaccination. The effort was stewarded by the City and Greater Lawrence Community Action Council. A paid radio spot is also planned.
September 22
- In Leominster, the vaccine equity team pivoted quickly to move a vaccination event from the Spanish American Center to a Days Inn, partnering with the local homeless shelter and police department to distribute prepackaged meals and conduct vaccinations. The VaxBus set up in the parking lot and vaccinated 12 people.
The VaxBus visits Leominster
Vaccine information table in Holyoke
September 13, 2021
- DPH vaccine outreach workers in Holyoke staff an information table inside Holyoke Health Center. Because of their work, the center saw a marked increase in people interested in the vaccine, so much so, the City plans to find ways to sustain the local informational efforts into the fall.
- Bishop Talbert Swan and Springfield’s Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ hosted a vaccination event with the City of Springfield last Saturday. The event featured live music, entertainment, and food.
Vaccine event in Springfield
September 6, 2021
- Randolph held vaccination clinics at the annual Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival; more than 60 people were vaccinated over the two-day event.
- Block by block efforts in Fall River, with events at Price Rite and a local place of worship, resulted in 115 residents vaccinated.
- ASG’s information table inside Holyoke Health Center saw a marked increase in people interested in the vaccine, so much so, the City plans to find ways to sustain the local informational efforts into the fall.
August 28, 2021
- Our community vaccination event in New Bedford featured food, music, and gift cards for the vaccinated. It was held at Riverside Park in New Bedford – where 73 people stepped up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Community vaccination event at Riverside Park in New Bedford
August 26, 2021
- In Brockton, the New Life Community Empowerment Center, serving Black, Latinx, Haitian, Cape Verdean and homeless communities, is hosting 1-hour Facebook Live webinars titled “Coping and Conquering: Community COVID-19 Monthly Conversations'' featuring a local health expert. The August webinar featured a chief nurse from Brigham and Women’s Hospital who spoke about the Delta variant and addressed vaccine hesitancy. About 800 people viewed the webinar.
- In Boston, the Asian American Civic Association is launching their ads on the MBTA and in the local Vietnamese newspaper, starting the first week of September. Among the goals is to expand vaccination messaging to individuals with limited English proficiency in Boston’s Asian community.
August 23
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In Worcester, the locally based Worcester Interfaith, serving low-income, minority and newcomer residents, is using a network of outreach workers called “cultural brokers” who speak many languages, live and work in the community, and have developed relationships to promote the vaccination message. One of the cultural brokers who has had a personal loss from COVID, shares her story in conversation with the 250 families she connects with regularly to encourage vaccination.
August 15
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The vaccination efforts in Lynn were highlighted by columnist Yvonne Abraham who traveled with a canvasser to provide information to local neighborhoods (article requires subscription).
August 14
- Vaccinations were administered to visitors to Lynn Summer Fest, co-hosted with support from DPH, Tufts Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Lynn Community Health Center and Girls Inc., Lynn. More than 300 people, including Senator Ed Markey, attended the event which featured music, cultural dances, games, prizes, and food vendors.
Lynn Summer Fest
Outdoor clinic in Revere
August 11, 2021
- Revere continues to host clinics and our field ambassadors recently lent support to a busy local clinic near Revere Beach.
- Mobile vaccination clinics were on site at National Night Out events held this summer in Lowell, Malden, Leominster, Haverhill, Holyoke and New Bedford.
- We continue to host tailored vaccination efforts in Mattapan and during the week of August 6-13, there are five clinics scheduled in partnership with community organizations for local residents.
July 30
- Chelsea hosted a “Summer COVID-19 Vaccine Festival” at the Chelsea Senior Center including music, food, live performances, $25 gift cards, and a raffle to win an iPad. 175 doses were administered to attendees.
- Boston held a clinic with gift cards in the parking lot of America’s Food Basket Mattapan Square, in partnership with the Authentic Caribbean Foundation; 26 people received first doses.
- A successful event was held in Lowell where 64 people were vaccinated; included "Touch the Truck" event, free food from food truck, Lowell Police comfort dog; staff wore reusable vests that said "I speak Spanish. How can I help you?" in Spanish as well as other languages common in Lowell.
- Lawrence’s Road to VaxMillions campaign led to 32 vaccinations across a number of partners and collaborators.
Canvassers in Lawrence
On Shirley Avenue in Revere, one resident is helped to register for her appointment.
July 12:
- DPH field ambassadors in Revere continue to help inform residents about the COVID-19 vaccine.
June 28:
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Whether you run a bakery, dentist office, or pharmacy, our canvassers are visiting local businesses in Worcester and other vaccine equity communities, spreading the word about COVID vaccination and nearby clinics.
Canvassers at local businesses in Worcester
The Vax Express
June 21:
In Lawrence, staff from our Vaccine Equity Initiative helped support and promote COVID-19 vaccination aboard the Vax Express, a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on the commuter rail train. This unique vaccine clinic made stops in seven communities severely impacted by the pandemic.
Vaccine Equity Initiative staff in Lawrence (Credit: Archipelago Strategies Group)
June 14:
Our hyper-local efforts to increase COVID vaccination take shoe leather and going house to house to deliver information, promote nearby clinics and incentives, and convince the most hesitant to get vaccinated.
Door to door visits in Methuen
Pictured: Raquel Halsey, NAICOB, Janelle Pocowatchit, NAL, and Erica Piedade, DPH
June 6:
- Vaccination efforts include initiatives to reach the Commonwealth’s tribal and Indigenous populations. The North American Indian Center of Boston held a mobile COVID vaccination clinic in Jamaica Plain in partnership with the Native American Lifelines Title 5 Urban Indian Health Services and DPH.
May 31:
- In Chelsea, members of the community-based organization La Colaborativa disseminated information about the COVID-19 vaccine to local residents and businesses and answered questions about vaccine clinic appointments and locations.
- In Worcester, the Vaccine Equity team set up a vaccine information table at Polar Park where the WooSox announced they will make vaccines available for fans at park during the club’s second home stand, their first without COVID-19 capacity restrictions. The program is in partnership with Worcester’s Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.
Left: La Colaborativa in Chelsea
Right: Polar Park in Worcester
Vaccine Equity Initiative outreach workers in East Boston
May 18-21:
- DPH field ambassadors in East Boston hand out masks, sanitizer and information about the COVID-19 vaccine at a neighborhood park.
- In Lawrence, the DPH community outreach team raised awareness about how to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Members of Women Encouraging Empowerment (WEE), a local organization in Revere, passed out flyers, staged informational tables and hung posters in local businesses to raise awareness about how, where, and when to get vaccinated.
- Young organizers with Worcester's Southeast Asian Coalition banded together to spread helpful information about the vaccine at local supermarkets in the area.
- In Holyoke, DPH field ambassadors disseminate COVID-19 safety kits containing masks, hand sanitizer, and vaccination information.
Left to right: community outreach in Lawrence, Women Encouraging Empowerment efforts in Revere, youth organizers in Worcester, and DPH field ambassadors in Holyoke (Credit: Archipelago Strategies Group)
May 17:
In Haverhill, Vaccine Equity Staff set up a vaccine informational table and answered questions at Haverhill City Hall, where they met Mayor James Fiorentini who took time out to thank the group and pose for a photo.
Event in Haverhill (Credit: Archipelago Strategies Group)
May 11:
- In Worcester, Governor Baker joined canvassers to visit local businesses including Kokorico’s (left) and Maria’s Kitchen (right) and spread the word that the vaccine saves lives and that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect you and your family.
Community events in Worcester
May 10:
- To date, canvassers across the state have knocked on 82K doors, made 19K phone calls and hosted nearly 500 local events and displays including one at a Framingham YMCA and one conducted by the local climate justice group GreenRoots in Chelsea.
- Revere has set a public goal to get at least 70% of residents vaccinated by July 4th. The push includes using multilingual print and digital ads and a citywide system using a public “thermometer” to track progress.
Left to right: YMCA event in Framingham; GreenRoots event in Chelsea; a "thermometer" tracks vaccination progress in Revere
May 3:
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In Worcester, members of Worcester's Southeast Asian Coalition partnered with DPH to go door-to-door in their neighborhoods to share information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccine Equity Initiative outreach workers get ready to hit the ground running in Worcester.
Fitchburg canvassers get ready to head out.
April 30:
- In Fall River, the vaccine site located at the Khmer Buddhist Temple welcomed many area residents for COVID-19 vaccination, including older adults from the Cambodian-American community. Read the story in more detail in The Herald News.
- Lawrence is using a multi-faceted approach to increase vaccine awareness: leveraging radio, encouragement from the Mayor, and traditional street outreach (visiting barbershops, beauty salons, grocery stores, etc.)
- In Fitchburg, Health Care For All (HCFA) teams have been hitting the pavement, talking to residents about the COVID-19 vaccine and offering information about vaccine clinics in the region. “It’s going great so far,” one canvasser told a reporter. “We are having some amazing conversations and saving lives.” Read the story in the Sentinel and Enterprise.
April 29:
- In East Boston, the rain did not deter canvassers who visited the Maverick Square neighborhood and knocked on doors to speak with residents about vaccination. Canvassers also spoke with local business owners and put up “Trust the Facts” signage in their windows.
Rain didn’t stop the canvassing team in East Boston.
April 22, 2021:
- In Revere, NBC 10 highlighted neighborhood efforts in Revere, with city ambassadors going door to door to help residents sign up for a shot. “It’s a way to have two-way communication and for residents to know we’re also residents who are in the same boat as them," said Dimple Rana, the city's director of community engagement. This week ambassadors assembled bags of COVID supplies for residents and said they’ll be ready to sign up people for a vaccine at their homes. The goal in Revere is to get 70% of residents vaccinated by Fourth of July.
Door knocking takes place in Brockton.
April 20, 2021:
- In Framingham, WCVB highlights canvassing work including high school student involvement
- In Brockton, WBZ follows a youth canvasser going to door to door to share information on vaccination. Those same canvassers helped fill clinic slots which would have otherwise gone unused.
- In Lynn, in collaboration with Mass General Brigham and Lynn Community Health Center, Lynn is launching a call center staffed by individuals from the community to help residents make appointments at the Lynn Tech vaccination site. Lynn is also spearheading a mobile vaccination operation to increase access for those facing barriers such as lack of transportation to obtaining a vaccine.
April 18, 2021:
- In Everett, a team of canvassers spread out downtown to hand out information and answer questions about COVID vaccination. They handed out COVID-19 vaccination information and free masks to passerby in Everett, one of the cities hardest hit by COVID-19.
(Credit: Alex Gomez)