Wareham residents 16+ will be eligible for vaccine by April 19

Governor Charlie Baker has announced the dates when all remaining Massachusetts residents will be eligible for the vaccine.

Currently, those over the age of 65, those with two or more certain medical conditions, educators and those who live or work in low-income or affordable senior housing are eligible.

Everyone over the age of 60, along with essential workers in industries including grocery store and food service employees, transit workers and court employees, will be eligible for the vaccine on Monday, March 22.

On April 5, those who are 55 or older or who have one certain medical condition will become eligible.

On April 19, all adults over the age of 16 will be eligible for the vaccine.

However, it is likely that it may take those eligible several weeks to schedule a vaccine appointment, the state warned, due to the limited supply of available vaccines. 

The state recently launched a pre-registration system that will notify people when there are appointments available for them at the mass vaccination sites. The most convenient mass vaccination sites for south coast residents are located at the former Circuit City in Dartmouth and at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Anyone who cannot fill out the form online can ask a family member, companion or caregiver to fill it out, or call the state’s vaccination help line by dialing 211.

The online form asks for various information including date of birth, address and preferred method of communication. It also asks for occupation and comorbidity information, which could affect how soon you are eligible for the vaccine.

It takes less than five minutes to preregister. 

Preregistering does not prevent you from making an appointment to be vaccinated somewhere other than a state mass vaccination site if an alternative location can vaccinate you sooner.  

To sign up for the state’s pre-registration system, go to VaccineSignUp.mass.gov.

Those eligible for the vaccine can find appointments at other providers around the state using the state’s website www.mass.gov/CovidVaccineMap. 

Vaccinations have resumed at the clinic being operated by Southcoast Health at the Gleason Family YMCA, though the vaccine supply and available appointments are dependent on the state and could vary from week to week. 

Those interested in getting vaccinated at the YMCA can now sign-up as slots are available either through their MyChart account or at www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling/, which does not require a MyChart account.

Wareham’s Council on Aging staff has launched a hotline for residents who need help making a covid-19 vaccine appointment. Residents can dial 508-291-3100 Ext. 6530 from 8 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday and staff will assist with finding a mass vaccination site with openings and booking the appointment.