Marion Selectmen talk vaccine distribution

Jan 19, 2021

MARION — Following Marion’s vaccine clinic for Tri-Town and Wareham first responders, the Selectmen discussed preparations for potential future large-scale clinics at a Jan. 19 meeting. 

“I think we’re going to have to think about what role we’ll play,” Selectman John Waterman said of the rollout to the general public. 

With the state anticipating vaccination of the general population as early as April, Waterman said it’s important to begin preparations now. 

The town has already applied to be a regional vaccination site for the general public, but hasn’t yet received approval. 

Town Administrator Jay McGrail said residents have been trying to figure out when they’ll be able to be vaccinated. 

“We continue to receive a ton of phone calls every day,” he said. “Honestly, I wish I had more info.” 

If the town is approved as a regional vaccination site, officials will need to figure out staffing. The parking lot of the Benjamin D. Cushing Center would also need to accommodate larger crowds, as vaccine recipients are asked to stay on-site for 15 minutes to be monitored for adverse reactions to the vaccine.

Selectman Norm Hills said that if the town held clinics, it would likely have to accommodate far more people than attended the first responders clinic. 

Hills said he also expects that once the vaccine is available to the general public, there will be added pressure from the state to distribute as many doses as possible. 

“If we were gonna do four days once a month, I think that’s about the limit of what we can handle,” Waterman said. 

But for now, residents and town officials will have to wait and see. 

“More information to come, that’s for sure,” McGrail said.