Vaccinations Start Next Week for Area First Responders

The first shipment of vaccines for first responders has arrived in Berkshire County and clinics are expected to begin vaccinating police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers next week in Pittsfield, North Adams, and Great Barrington.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that according to the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association, six hundred doses of the Moderna vaccine arrived Tuesday morning. That’s enough to cover about half the first responders that were expected to sign up.

The Berkshire County Boards of Health Association will coordinate the county’s vaccine rollout for first responders, but officials have declined to disclose the location of the clinics. The Eagle reports that Laura Kittross, director of the association, said she expects about 1,100 to 1,200 people to request a vaccine during the first responder clinics. That’s roughly two-thirds of the personnel across the county. She did warn however that the numbers are a very rough estimate at the moment.

We have assurance from the state that, just like with the flu vaccine every year, as we use vaccines, more will be sent,” she said. “So, we're pretty confident that we will have enough to cover everyone. ~ Laura Kittross

Kitross says that county public health officials hope to begin clinics Monday and finish within one week, but the timing depends on several factors, including how quickly staff can learn to operate the state’s new online system.

The publication reports that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health held training Monday to familiarize health officials with PrepMod, which is the vaccine administration system that was purchased by the state. Berkshire County staff were expected to get access to that system Tuesday.