'Army Of Vaccinators' Being Trained In Worcester

Virus Outbreak Vaccine Whos Next — FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, file photo, a droplet falls from a syringe after a health care worker was injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Providence, R.I. The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination campaign has begun, and the few available doses are mostly going into the arms of health care workers and nursing home residents. But what about in January, February and March, when more shots are expected to become available? Who should get those doses? (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

By Associated Press

January 08, 2021

Worcester is gearing up for a massive effort to administer coronavirus vaccines to first responders who work in the city and several surrounding communities, officials say.

What's being called an “army of vaccinators” made up of up to 150 medical students will be trained Saturday to administer the vaccines, city Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said during the weekly COVID-19 update Thursday at City Hall, The Telegram & Gazette reports.

The Worcester Senior Center is being transformed into a vaccination center.

First responders from Worcester as well as Shrewsbury, Millbury, Leicester, Holden, Grafton and West Boylston are eligible for the vaccinations starting next week.

Police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel from public and private ambulance companies, campus police and dispatchers will be given their first dose and can return by appointment in 28 days for the second dose.

An estimated 2,200 people will be eligible and the city hopes to administer 300 per day, City Manager Edward Augustus said.