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Description
Mayor Janey joins Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez and Chief of Boston EMS Jim Hooley for a media availability to discuss the latest trends in COVID-19 case, testing and vaccination data. Mayor Janey will have just volunteered at the Martin Luther King Towers vaccination clinic. The Mayor will receive the COVID-19 vaccine following the media availability.
A
Folks,
ready
all
right
good
morning,
I'm
pleased
to
be
joined
today
by
marty
martinez.
He
is
our
chief
of
health
and
human
services
earlier
chief
hooley
was
with
us
over
at
the
mobile
vaccination
site
across
the
street,
certainly
want
to
thank
him,
and
the
entire
ems
team
also
want
to
acknowledge
kate
from
bha
and
sheila
dillon,
who
is
our
chief
of
housing
for
their
amazing
work.
A
I
also
want
to
lift
up
the
residence
over
at
mlk
towers
for
accommodating
this
important
vaccination
center,
this
residential
community,
that
is
home
to
more
than
a
hundred
seniors
and
adults
with
disabilities.
We
appreciate
their
hospitality
as
the
city
of
boston
works,
to
bring
more
life-saving
vaccines
to
the
neighborhood.
A
A
I'm
pleased
to
share
that
today
is
my
turn
to
receive
a
covid
19
vaccine.
I
became
eligible
like
other
bostonians
who
volunteered
at
vaccination
clinics
I'm
choosing
to
get
the
shot,
because
vaccination
is
an
important
tool
to
protect
ourselves,
to
protect
our
communities
and
all
those
that
we
love
and
to
help
stop
the
pandemic.
A
A
A
A
We
will
continue
to
make
progress
by
implementing
proven
strategies
and
new
approaches.
New
approaches
require
new
ideas,
so
today
I
am
pleased
to
announce
the
vaccine
equity
grant
initiative
through
the
vaccine
equity
grant
initiative.
The
city
of
boston
is
committing
1.5
million
dollars
to
support
non-profit
organizations,
creating
equitable
access
and
breaking
down
barriers
to
access
for
bostonians,
who
have
been
disproportionately
impacted
by
covet
19..
A
A
As
we
begin
a
new
track
chapter
in
our
city,
we
are
inviting
new
partners
to
table
to
the
table
in
our
fight
against
covet
19.,
while
all
partnerships
will
be
considered.
The
vaccine
equity
grant
initiative
will
prioritize
partnerships,
organizations
that
have
not
previously
been
fully
engaged
in
this
work.
A
A
The
arrival
of
spring
and
the
rollout
of
vaccines
bring
new
hope
to
our
battle
against
covet
19..
We
all
want
to
live
our
best
lives.
We
all
want
to
enjoy
the
beautiful
spring
weather,
but
we
must
remain
vigilant
against
the
virus.
The
latest
covet
19
data
makes
clear
our
fight
is
far
from
over
in
boston.
Yesterday
we
saw
335
new
confirmed
cases
for
a
total
of
62
874..
A
A
We
must
all
continue
to
prac
the
practices
that
keep
us
safe,
boston,
let's
keep
wearing
our
masks,
washing
our
hands,
keeping
our
distance,
avoiding
gatherings
and
when
our
turn
comes,
please,
let's
get
vaccinated.
Thank
you,
and
now
I'm
happy
to
take
a
few
questions
that
you
have
for
myself
or
chief
martinez.
B
A
A
I
think
it
is
important
that
we
continue
to
do
the
things
that
we
see
are
making
an
impact.
I
am
particularly
excited
about
the
mobile
vaccination
clinics
that
meet
people
where
they
are
a
couple
of
weeks
ago,
when
I
was
here
at
the
mlk
tower,
I
had
the
opportunity
to
knock
on
several
doors
to
talk
with
residents.
A
Many
were
very
eager
to
come
down
and
get
vaccinated.
Some
still
had
questions,
and
so,
through
those
conversations
talking
with
residents,
I
was
very
pleased
to
help
encourage
some
to
come
down
and
get
vaccinated.
Today
was
their
second
opportunity
to
get
their
second
shot.
So,
coming
back
and
seeing
some
of
those
same
residents
get
fully
vaccinated
is
very
rewarding,
and
so
I
think
it
is
important
that
we
continue
to
do
things
that
are
working.
A
B
A
Know
I
think
there
is
an
issue
around
lack
of
information
and
misinformation,
and
so
when
residents
have
questions,
it
is
important
to
get
the
facts
in
front
of
them
and
so
not
just
through
my
conversation
making
sure
that
we
have
medical
professionals
on
site
doctors
on
site
who
can
answer
any
questions
that
residents
may
have.
Sometimes
it's
not
fear
of
the
vaccine,
but
residents
may
be
on
other
medication.
They
want
to
understand
how
they
will
re,
how
that
medication
will
impact
the
vaccine.
A
It
is
very
important
that
we
ensure
that
our
school
teachers
have
access
to
the
vaccine,
proud
of
the
the
work
that
we
are
already
doing
on
that
front
to
ensure
that
our
educators
get
get
the
vaccine,
we
want
to
open
schools
and
make
sure
that
they
are
safe
for
not
just
our
teachers,
for
our
families
and
other
staff,
so
that
is
very
important,
and
that
is.
That
is
a
priority
for
me.
A
C
Thank
you
mayor,
so
yeah,
so
the
the
city
of
boston
and
the
boston
public
schools
have
been
vaccinating
educators,
k-12
educators.
We
opened
a
site
at
the
gallivan
community
center
in
matapan,
creating
access
for
teachers.
There
we
created
access
through
priority
slots
for
teachers
through
reggie
lewis,
center
in
partnership
with
tufts
medical
center
and
have
created
a
lot
of
access.
C
Thus
far,
we
believe,
probably
close
to
anywhere
between
60
percent
of
k-12
educators
have
gotten
access
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
everyone
who
wants
it
can
get
it
so
bps
under
the
leadership
of
dr
casolias
has
made
sure
we
we're
going
to
do
that,
and
the
mayor
has
been
clear.
We
need
to
continue
that
effort.
A
Our
school
teachers
are
prepared
to
come
back
into
the
classroom
at
the
after
school
vacation
in
april
and
that
that
is
great
and
we
are
working
with
our
families
to
help
them
understand
all
of
the
protocols
that
we
have
put
in
place.
That
will
ensure
safety,
and
so
that
is
our
our
plan.
Thus
far.
We
will
continue
to
monitor
the
data
and
be
informed
by
the
data.
D
A
It
is
important
because
again
we
have
to
do
this
responsibly
and
safely.
Teachers
just
recently
became
eligible
for
the
the
vaccine,
despite
their
strong
advocacy
to
get
vaccinated
earlier.
We
have
to
ensure
that
more
educators
are
getting
the
shot
and
not
just
our
educators,
all
of
our
support
staff,
and
we
believe
that
this
this
extra
time
will
help
us
do.
E
A
Yeah,
I
don't
know
if
I
would
say
a
surprise.
I
remain
encouraged
by
the
way
everyone
is
coming
together
from
our
health
providers
and
medical
institutions,
certainly
our
own
amazing
team,
working
through
the
city
of
boston
and
community
partners
who
have
come
to
the
table,
who
have
really
stepped
up
their
efforts
to
ensure
that
we're
getting
good
information
out
to
residents
and
that
we
are
providing
a
way
for
residents
to
get
in
contact
with
folks
who
can
help
them
get
appointments.
And
so
I'm
remain
encouraged
by
that.
A
It
is
not
just
impacting
older
residents,
in
fact,
the
biggest
growth
that
we
are
seeing
are
in
young
residents,
and
so
it
is
extremely
important,
particularly
since
they're
not
eligible
now
to
remain
vigilant
in
terms
of
social
distancing,
avoiding
gatherings,
washing
your
hands
and
wearing
masks.
You
know
my
hope
is.
We
will
have
the
supply
needed
to
meet
that
demand
when
everyone
is
eligible,
but
in
the
meantime
we
have
to
do
everything
we
can
not
just
to
protect
ourselves,
but
those
we.
F
You
were
one
of
the
who
was
previously
on
the
fence
about
whether
or
not
you
would
get
the
vaccine
when
it
first
became
available.
Now
you
are
going
to
take
it
today.
Are
you
hoping
to
encourage
other
people
of
color
to
get
it
past
their
hesitancy?
And
can
you
talk
about
the
conversation
you
have
with
yourself
in.
A
Deciding
to
get
back
yes,
yes,
yes,
so
you
know,
as
a
person
of
color,
I
too
have
experienced
racism
in
in
healthcare.
I
know
other
folks
have
as
well.
I
think
it
is.
It
is
important
to
point
out
here
that
people
of
color
are
no
less
hesitant
or
more
they're,
not
more
hesitant
than
other
groups.
They
are
not
more
hesitant
than
other
groups,
so
there
is
some
hesitancy
that
people
have,
and
it
is
important
that
we
get
factual
information
out.
A
I
know
in
communities
of
color,
sometimes
people
reference,
the
tuskegee
experiments
and
the
the
lack
of
treatment
or
the
treatment
that
was
denied
to
african
americans
and,
as
we
think
about
this
vaccine,
we
cannot
let
the
vaccine
be
held
back
from
communities
of
color.
So
it
is
important
that
we
take
the
steps
necessary
to
get
the
information
that
will
help
people
make
informed
choices.
The
vaccine
is
essential
for
our
recovery,
reopening
and
renewal
people
are
anxious
to
live
their
best
lives.
I
want
to
make
clear
this
is
not
about
getting
back
to
normal.
A
Normal
was
hurting
too
many
folks
with
health
gaps,
as
well
as
wealth
gaps
in
the
city
of
boston.
We
have
to
ensure
that
we
come
out
of
this
pandemic
stronger
than
before
in
a
much
more
equitable
city
than
before,
and
so
really
important
that
we
get
information
out,
get
the
facts
out
so
that
people
can
make
informed
decisions.
A
B
C
Yeah,
so
the
question
about
whether
or
not
there's
been
other
days
with
no
deaths,
there's
been
a
few
days
sporadically
thrown
around
where
there
has
been
cases
where
we
haven't
had
deaths
which
we're
thankful
for.
I
think
we're
also
going
to
see
as
more
older
bostonians
and
older
residents
get
vaccinated.
That's
why
we're
also
seeing
a
decrease
in
hospitalizations
and,
ultimately,
a
decrease
in
deaths.
So
that's
a
really
important
piece,
I
think
in
the
city,
we've
done
a
great
job
in
partnership
with
so
many
of
vaccinating
older
residents.