Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Booster Clinics

WEST NEWBURY — The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative is pleased to announce that it will host two community COVID-19 vaccination clinics for those seeking booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

WHEN 

Wednesday, Dec. 15, and Wednesday, Dec. 22, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE

West Newbury Town Office Building Annex, 381 Main St., West Newbury, MA

WHAT

Clinics will administer booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which has been authorized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration for those ages 5 and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose regimen, with three weeks between first and second doses. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has authorized a “mix-and-match” approach to booster shots. Clinics will deliver booster shots to anyone who qualifies, whether the patient received the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna regimen, or the single-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).

The CDC recommends that those who have received a full Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna regimen seek out a booster shot after six months, and that those who received a Janssen dose seek a booster shot two months after their initial vaccination.

Individuals can check if they are eligible for a booster by using the eligibility tool at  mass.gov/BoosterCheck. 

To learn more about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, please click here.

Vaccines are free. Insurance is not required. Attendees will be required to wear masks and maintain physical distance, in accordance with current Massachusetts guidelines regarding clinics.

To make an appointment to receive a booster at the clinics in West Newbury, click here.

The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative comprises Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury.

West Newbury Police Officers Participating in Home Base No Shave Fundraiser

WEST NEWBURY – Chief Jeffrey Durand is pleased to announce that the West Newbury Police Department will take part in the Home Base No Shave fundraiser for the first time in November.

Members of the Department may forgo facial hair restrictions during November and donate or raise $100 to support Home Base’s mission. Home Base assists veterans and their families in healing from invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.

“We are learning more and more about the wounds of war, and the struggles veterans and their families face every day,” Chief Durand said. “I encourage community members to give generously, and commend Officer Emmanuel Terrero for organizing this important effort.”

The Department has set a goal of $1,000, but hopes to exceed that to provide even greater support to Home Base and veterans in need of critical services. Those interested in helping may donate here.

Home Base No Shave, which was formerly known as No Shave November, was created in 2015. It has raised more than $800,000 from more than 130 police departments across the country, representing more than 2,500 first responders.

About Home Base:

Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds for veterans of all eras, service members, military families and families of fallen soldiers through world-class clinical care, wellness, education and research.

Since its inception, Home Base has provided care and support to more than 21,000 veterans and family members and trained more than 73,000 clinicians, educators, first responders and community members – all at no cost to those individuals.

For more information, visit www.homebase.org.

Groveland, Merrimac & West Newbury Police and Fire Departments Partner with Pentucket to Share Safe Driving Tips for Teens

 

With school out and the summer season in full swing, Groveland Fire Chief Robert Valentine, Groveland Police Chief Jeffrey Gillen, Merrimac Fire Chief Larry Fisher, Merrimac Police Chief Eric Shears, West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer, Police Chief Jeffrey Durand and Pentucket Superintendent Dr. Justin Bartholomew wish to share safe driving tips with teens.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens age 15 to 18 in the United States.

In 2018, there were 2,121 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, of which 719 deaths were the teen driver. During that time, there were an estimated 88,000 teen drivers injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and an estimated 256,000 people injured in crashes involving a teen driver, accounting for almost 10% of all those injured that year.

“Teen drivers are still learning the ways of the road, and it is crucial for them to be cautious and to take the proper steps to ensure safety on the road,” said Superintendent Bartholomew. “Parents, please talk to your young drivers about the following safety tips. Something as simple as buckling up could save a life.”

The public safety departments that comprise the Pentucket district recommend that parents discuss the following safety tips from safekids.org with their teen driver to help keep them safe:

  • Buckle up for every trip, every time, no matter what. This applies for anyone traveling in the front or back seat. More than half of teens killed in crashes were not wearing a seatbelt.
  • Texting or using a phone while driving can cause teens to become distracted and is prohibited in Massachusetts. On average, texting while driving takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
  • Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle to help prevent young drivers from becoming distracted. The risk of a fatal crash can double, or even triple when two or more teens ride in a vehicle together.
  • Driving under the influence of any impairing substance — including alcohol, illicit or prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medication — could have deadly consequences.
  • Teens should only drive when it is dark after extra practice. At night, the risk of a fatal crash is three times more likely for teens than adults.
  • Always drive within the speed limit. Road conditions can change in an instant and speed limits help to ensure that drivers have enough time to react.
  • If a driver is driving dangerously, speak up.

For more information on safe driving information for teens, please click here.

No Days Off: Planning, Collaboration Drive Success of Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative Health Clinic

AMESBURY – Visitors to the Lowell Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative vaccine clinic will see a smoothly-run operation filled with professional staff and dedicated local volunteers.

What visitors do not see are the countless hours of behind-the-scenes planning among the leadership team, beginning the Monday morning after every clinic.

“Sometimes, it’s Sunday night,” says Nurse Manager Diane Dardeno, who will break down the weekend with fellow Nurse Manager Tina LaCourse as Amesbury firefighters are breaking down the high school gymnasium at the end of the weekend clinic. “The goal is to be ready to go on Monday morning.”

The clinic operates under the Incident Command System, which is standard in fire services. Amesbury Fire Chief Ken Berkenbush and West Newbury Health Agent Paul Sevigny serve as Incident Commanders, working the clinic site throughout each weekend to ensure smooth operations and spot potential challenges.

The clinic effort started in January, when the City of Newburyport obtained 800 Moderna doses. During six clinics, two in Newburyport and four in West Newbury, first responders and and residents age 75 and older received the two-shot regimen. Last weekend’s clinic, 12 hours total, administered 3,143 Pfizer doses. The previous weekend clinic, totaling 16 hours, administered more than 4,050 doses with no waste.

“When you grow by that many times, you can have that many more times the problems,” Sevigny says.

Sevigny and Berkenbush convene a Monday video chat to review the weekend, hear from key team members about which systems worked and which can be improved upon, brainstorm solutions and begin planning for the coming weekend’s clinics. The rest of the week is spent executing those plans, through Friday night when the clinic is set up again. The goal is continuous improvement.

Change is a constant. Canopy tents were added at the outdoor screening to protect clients from Saturday’s rain. Space heaters were brought in to fight off the cold, ensuring that outdoor volunteers remained comfortable.

Other challenges require planning and reassessment. Volunteers with internet technology experience were sought because client registration and processing needs grew and tested Amesbury High School’s network.

In the early weeks, the observation area regularly filled, and some newly vaccinated people had to wait for a seat. “Some people hadn’t been out in a while. They were just having a nice time,” and overstaying their 15-minute medical wait, Chief Berkenbush said. The team’s solution: Observation area volunteers now call out dismissal times every minute, increasing turnover.

The team also revamped its waitlist callback system to fill open appointments, because vaccines have become more readily available, and the number of no-shows/cancellations have risen. This step ensures no dose is wasted.

The first clinic operated with about 25 volunteers. Now more than 200 people volunteer on a weekend and are assigned one of 11 specific tasks from greeter to medical scribe.

Streamlining operations has cut average vaccination times from four minutes per person about three minutes, enabling the clinic to vaccinate about one-third more people per day. The clinic passed 19,000 total vaccinations on Sunday.

The clinic is successful because of a simple focus: Put a good team on the field, provide a lot of support, and collaborate.

“It takes a village,” Sevigny says. “It takes great staff, dedicated volunteers, everybody.”

Erin Rich, Director of Volunteer Services, adds, “When a problem arises, everyone collaborates. We’re all asking, ‘What’s the best solution.’ That’s a big part of it.”

Patients leave with a smile, and often with praise for the clinic’s speed, efficiency, and professionalism.

“In the end people see everything went smoothly. It promotes a general feeling of wellness,” Chief Berkenbush said.

The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative comprises Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury. 

JGPR is providing communications services to this effort on a pro bono basis.