Lincoln’s first Covid-19 vaccination clinic goes swimmingly

By Maureen Belt

A premiere office suite in North Lincoln, empty for months because of Covid-19, was transformed last week into a clinic that distributed not only the Moderna vaccine, but doses of hope and freedom to dozens of Lincoln seniors — many of whom have had their social and personal lives halted because of the virus. 

Nearly 100 senior citizens, the oldest aged 98, and other high-risk residents were injected with the first round of the two-dose vaccine on February 11 at the Lincoln North office building at 55 Old Bedford Rd. Their follow-up shots are scheduled for March 11.

The clinic, which ran with the precision of a Swiss watch, was the result of strategic planning by Lincoln’s public health team: Board of Health member Trish Miller, Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean, Council on Aging Director Abigail Butt, Assistant Town Administrator Dan Pereira, Town Administrator Tim Higgins, Fire Chief Brian Young, and Lt. Sean Kennedy and Det. Ian Spencer of the Lincoln Police Department.

The team handled all logistics — communicating with the DPH, finding a space for the clinic, organizing volunteers, and ensuring all recipients were safely transported from their homes to the clinic. Lincoln resident Larry Smith of Cranberry Hill Associates, Inc., which manages Lincoln North, donated use of the space.

Initially, said Young, Lincoln expected to receive 2,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine from the state Department of Public Health (DPH), so a weeklong clinic from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. was planned with the hopes of inoculating the same number of residents. Nearly 100 volunteers were on board, clinicians were hired, and several hundred empty square feet of office space with ample parking were secured. 

Then, just after 5 p.m. on February 5, Young learned that the DPH was reducing Lincoln’s number of shots to 100. “They switched courses,” he said. “That’s fine. We said we’ll take what we can get and we will start with the most at-risk residents.”

Miller said Lincoln was fortunate to receive even a reduced number, as many surrounding communities did not get any. The goal, she said, “was to get as many shots into as many arms as we could.”

Mission accomplished.

The atmosphere was convivial — more like a neighborhood block party than a medical clinic —with residents cheerfully greeting their masked, socially distanced friends and commenting on how nice it was to see each other after nearly a year of not being out and about.

“It’s been a terrific team effort, and it’s had its challenges with the laws and the regulations changing,” said Mr. Higgins. “I’m thrilled that the team was able to put the clinic on for the town.”

Having a local clinic, Mr. Higgins said, is especially crucial to Lincoln’s vulnerable residents who would have a hard time getting to and from clinics in “mega-sites” such as Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park — not just once, but twice. 

“Here, they’re familiar with the people in the clinic,” he said. “They have good relationships. It has a nice, small-town feel to it.”

The group unanimously decided residents 85 years old and over would get first dibs. A call center was organized so residents could book appointments without needing to use a computer.

“Abby was very helpful. She has great relationships with the older folks,” Miller said, adding Butt also identified the seniors who needed to be inoculated in their homes and rounded up volunteers to transport seniors to and from the clinic.

Holding clinics routinely is the goal, but this will depend on the weekly supply of vaccine from the state. A clinic was temporarily planned for Thursday, Feb. 18 for residents 75 and older, but Pereira said on February 13 that the town would not be getting its expected 100 doses for that clinic. The team will keep the town informed about future clinics and volunteer opportunities as well as any other changes.