Councilor and mayoral candidate Andrea Campbell released the following statement last week in response to the new State policy allowing vaccinations for people who accompany older residents to vaccine appointments, and reports that younger people are offering to pay seniors to take them to appointments to take advantage of this new policy.
“While it may have been well-meaning, it took less than 24 hours for this new state policy to be abused,” she said. “It’s the wrong approach when those who need it most — seniors, essential workers, teachers, Black and Brown residents in communities where infection rates are highest — are still waiting for their chance to be vaccinated.
“We know the health disparities — Black people, especially Black men, often don’t make it to 75,” she continued. “The State should rescind this policy or limit it to Massachusetts residents 65 and older accompanying, and immediately open up appointments to these other individuals.”