Vaccine rollout plan leaving low-income senior housing residents in limbo

NEWTON, Mass. — Some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens are wondering why they’re not allowed to get the COVID-19 vaccine with other elderly residents in Phase 1.

At the Golda Meir House in Newton, an affordable housing facility for seniors, some residents have been hunkering down inside their apartments since the pandemic began.

Marilyn Berman, a 93-year-old resident, is one of those people.

“I haven’t been any place. I’ve been cutting my own hair since February. That was the last time I had a haircut,” Berman told Boston 25 News over the phone on Tuesday.

Berman said she didn’t understand why seniors living in low income senior housing facilities cannot get the vaccine in Phase 1.

Meanwhile, long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities continue to get vaccinated.

“It’s a little scary. I may be almost 94 but I have a lot to live for,” Berman said.

It’s an issue that worries her family as well.

“To not see her and her friends get the same level of health care that others are getting, it’s heartbreaking,” said Lindsay Dee, Berman’s granddaughter.

Dee told Boston 25 that she believes it may boil down to money.

Th average senior living in the low-income apartments lives on about $11,000 per year, according to the Amy Schectman, president and CEO of 2Life Communities, which runs the facility.

Schectman added that about one-third of residents qualify for assisted living, but cannot afford it.

Dee said she has contacted the governor’s office several times with no response, and wants them to step up.

“You are not including the low-income elderly population and it’s disgusting. It’s shameful and they need to be included,” Dee said.

Schectman explained that she’s been lobbying with about 80 other affordable housing providers to try and get these vulnerable residents in phase 1.

“We’re just getting so many calls from our residents, from their children, from their grandchildren, tearful, begging,” Schectman said. “It’s just a moral imperative that we get them vaccinated so we can restore community life and keep them safe from this dreaded pandemic.”

So far, Schectman said they have not gotten a response form the governor’s office after sending two letters just this month.

“I’m hoping they’ll get back to us soon because we need to provide that reassurance for our residents and their families,” she said. “There’s no logic that we can see in not following the CDC recommendation. Long-term care, assisted living, affordable senior housing. It’s a trio, and we’d like to see it as a trio.”

Boston 25 News reached out to Gov. Charlie Baker’s office four times on Tuesday about the issue, and only received the following response at 5:34 p.m.:

• “The COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed through a phased process, and Phase One begins with frontline health care workers followed by long-term care facilities (which are being completed through a partnership with CVS/Walgreens and the federal government), first responders and congregate care.
• “The full distribution timeline is available at www.mass.gov/covidvaccine. As the process moves forward, further details about specific groups will continue to be refined and added. Questions about prioritizing certain groups or jobs should be submitted via this email: COVID-19-Vaccine-Plan-MA@mass.gov.”

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