Hi Friends. This is Mayor Mike Cahill calling with a Friday update. As you know, the state has opened up vaccine eligibility to everyone age 65 and older and to people with two co-morbidities as defined by the CDC. For anyone now eligible, this adds another one million people in Massachusetts looking for vaccine appointments. And the state only received about 110,000 doses this past week from the federal government, with 140,000 more to come next week. So, please do keep trying to get your appointment – including on the Salem State clinic registration site which opens at 12 noon every Saturday, and you can find the link on our website –
www.beverlyma.gov - and please understand that even as vaccine manufacturing continues to ramp up, it may still take several weeks to get everyone in your group vaccinated.
You can find information on co-morbidities and access to the state vaccine registration site by logging on to the state website –
www.mass.gov – and clicking on the COVID-19 icon. If you have questions for me or need the city’s help with navigating this, you can e-mail me at
mayorcahill@beverlyma.gov or call my office at 978 921-6000.
As we head into the weekend, I also want to share a story and a thought. Yesterday, as I stepped outside City Hall at lunchtime, I ran into a friend, who I had last seen at the supermarket almost a year ago. Soon after that, he caught COVID. He spent three months in the hospital, several weeks on a ventilator, fighting for his life while so many people sent healing prayers and thoughts his way. Seeing him yesterday, I was filled with joy. He is a wonderful and kind person who always makes me smile, and he was quick to ask about my family and tell me about his grandkids, who I know he loves dearly. It was a happy, uplifting moment for sure in this most difficult year.
And so, as we all do our best to keep ourselves and others safe, please keep in mind that we are already 2/3 of the way through winter and that spring arrives in a month. In the meantime, let’s keep checking in with each other, helping our neighbors, friends, and family. I remain always grateful for this wonderful community we all call home. Thank you. Be well and have a good weekend.
