Boston to shut three of its five remaining Covid-19 vaccination sites

The Boston Public Health Commission announced today that it's shutting its vaccination sites at the Hyde Park community center and the Fiorentino center in Allston and the Lena Park CDC in Dorchester on May 13, because so few people are now showing up for shots.

Vaccination sites at the Bolling Building in Nubian Square and at Boston City Hall will remain open, the commission said, adding, however, that the Bolling clinic will close temporarily on May 12 and then re-open May 18 with new hours: Thursday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m.

The commission says it administered Covid-19 shots to some 6,000 people at the sites last year.

It adds that Covid-19 numbers in Boston are trending down:

• New COVID-19 cases per day decreased by 22% over the past seven days, and by 38% over the past 14 days (data through April 28).
• Boston hospitals had a total of 49 new COVID-19 related hospitalizations this past week, which is a 6.2% decrease over the past seven days and a 42% decrease over the past 14 days (data through April 27).
• Boston is averaging 140 RNA copies/mL in its wastewater, which is a 68% decrease over the past 14 days (data through April 23).

It adds that shots are still recommended:

• Everyone 6 months and older should get at least one dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, with different recommendations by age and vaccine series for children -new guidance from the CDC
• Individuals ages 65-years or older who have already received a COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine are eligible to receive one additional bivalent booster dose at least 4 months following their initial bivalent dose.
• Individuals with moderate to severely immunocompromising conditions who have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive one additional dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months following a dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
• Additional age-appropriate doses may be administered to immunocompromised individuals at the discretion of, and at intervals determined by their healthcare provider. Per CDC’s webpage at the time of this press release, “Information about the COVID-19 vaccination schedule for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised will be available soon.”
• Adults and children ages 6-years and older are considered up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations if they have received one dose of a bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.