People aged 12 or older who live, work or study in Massachusetts are now eligible to be vaccinated against covid-19. 

People over the age of 18 can sign up to receive any vaccine, but those ages 12 to 17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine. Local public health experts continue to encourage people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Although Wareham has a covid-19 vaccine clinic, the town’s vaccination rate lags behind some other Massachusetts communities. According to the state’s May 13 data, only 45 percent of Wareham residents have received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine. That amounts to just 10,794 people.

Of the 27 municipalities in Plymouth County reporting vaccination data to the state, Wareham has reported the third-lowest percentage of individuals with at least one dose. Only Middleborough and Brockton had lower percentages of individuals with at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine: 43 percent each.

Every other municipality in Plymouth County reported that at least 49 percent or more of its population had received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine.

Southcoast Health’s vaccination clinic at the Gleason Family YMCA has closed, but the healthcare nonprofit opened a new clinic at the town’s Multiservice Center on May 8. The vaccine supply is dependent on the state and could vary from week to week.

Those interested in getting vaccinated through Southcoast can now sign-up as slots are available, either through their MyChart account or at www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling/, which does not require a MyChart account.

Alternatively, Southcoast is offering walk-up vaccines at various locations. For times and locations of upcoming walk-up clinics, visit: www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccination/. 

Those eligible for the vaccine can find appointments at other providers around the state using the state’s website vaxfinder.mass.gov.

Wareham’s Council on Aging staff has launched a hotline for residents who need help making a covid-19 vaccine appointment. Residents can dial 508-291-3100 Ext. 6530 from 8 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday and staff will assist with finding a mass vaccination site with openings and booking the appointment.

The state has also set up a call center for those who are eligible for the vaccine but are unable to access the vaccine appointment website or who have trouble navigating the complex online system.

From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, people can call 211 and navigate to the vaccine help line by pressing two when prompted. The call center has workers on staff who speak English and Spanish, and there are translators available to support residents in about 100 additional languages.

For additional information about the available covid-19 vaccines, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/ or talk to your doctor.