FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Emrah Fejzic 978-228-1233 | emrah.fejzic@mahouse.gov
VARGAS VACCINE OPERATION BOOKS 2,522 APPOINTMENTS, ALL SCHOOL STAFF SET TO RECEIVE 1ST DOSE BY NEXT WEEK
BOSTON, MA – At the onset of vaccine distribution in Massachusetts, the Office of Representative Andy X. Vargas has engaged in a “Get Out The Vaccine” (GOTV) operation wherein eligible Haverhill residents and workers have been called and texted to secure vaccine appointments. This includes bilingual outreach via WhatsApp– a text messaging platform popular in the Latino and immigrant community. To-date, the Vargas team has helped 2,522 Haverhill residents and workers secure vaccine appointments. As more Spanish-speaking residents become eligible starting next week (food manufacturing, grocery, other workers eligible), the WhatsApp program will become even more effective.
Further, by the end of next week, every Haverhill schoolteacher and staff who wants a COVID-19 vaccine, will have received at least one dose. This includes all Haverhill Public Schools and Whittier Tech. Haverhill’s vaccine distribution program was designed through a partnership between State Representative Andy X. Vargas’s Office, the City of Haverhill, Haverhill Public Schools and Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.
The Haverhill COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan is in contrast to the state’s reliance on mass vaccination sites. Instead, the Haverhill plan focused on targeted outreach to eligible Haverhill residents who are most at risk of death or spreading COVID-19. After running a successful pilot vaccine center from their nearby Methuen location and Haverhill’s Consentino school, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center quickly worked with Rep. Vargas and Mayor Fiorentini to set up a vaccine site directly on Water Street in Haverhill.
Rich Napolitano, Senior Vice President of Greater Lawrence Family Health Center said:
“As Greater Lawrence Family Health Center has continued to expand its COVID Vaccination efforts we are grateful for the support and leadership we have from Representative Vargas and his amazing team. The care and concern Team Vargas has provided in making sure his constituents and others throughout the community have access to the Covid vaccine as they have become eligible has been remarkable. As the eligibility criteria to receive the vaccine opens up next week, we will continue to partner with Representative Vargas and others to ensure expanded access to the vaccine with the hopes of reaching herd immunity as soon as possible.”
State Representative Andy X. Vargas said:
“Thanks to our targeted efforts and strong partnership with GLFHC, Haverhill is one of the first school districts to have all teachers and school staff receive a first dose. Additionally, our outreach to eligible Haverhill residents and workers has ensured that vulnerable folks who can’t sit around refreshing a web page all day, actually get appointments. I’m proud of our Team’s outreach efforts and the role we’ve played in facilitating local vaccine sites for the people of Haverhill. None of this would have been possible without GLFHC’s partnership and support of Mayor Fiorentini.”
Here is a summary of Team Vargas Vaccine Operations:
- Coordinated vaccine clinic at Consentino School (lowest income census track in Haverhill)
- Contacted over 5,000 eligible residents and workers to get vaccine
- Innovated and utilized WhatsApp messages to reach bilingual and immigrant residents
- Facilitated opening of GLFHC clinic at Water St. (Central Plaza) location
- Helped paint and furnish vaccine clinic at Water St.
- Secured appointments for 2,522 Haverhill residents and workers
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