Second Community COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic Scheduled

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative has scheduled another community COVID-19 vaccine clinic, to be held on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Berkshire Community College Patterson Field House. 
 
The clinic will provide Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, including first or second doses for those 5 to 11, Pfizer boosters for those 16 to 17, and first, second or booster doses to eligible adults. The booster helps to prevent contracting COVID-19 or prevents serious illness in those with breakthrough cases of the virus.
 
Pre-registration is required for this vaccine clinic and can be done by visiting www.getvaccinatedberkshires.org.
 
"The Omicron variant is now spreading rapidly across the state and country, and booster vaccination is the best tool to avoid infection, or if infected, to reduce the severity of the illness," said James Lederer, MD, Berkshire Health Systems Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines provide good protection against Omicron, and we hope those in our community who have not yet received a booster will register for this event or get a booster at other locations where available."
 
A clinic held on Dec. 18 at BCC saw close to 1,000 people vaccinated, and the January clinic is expected to continue that trend.
 
The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative is a partnership of Berkshire Health Systems, the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association and Community Health Programs, and successfully vaccinated tens of thousands of Berkshire residents throughout early to mid-2021.
 
For more information on the BCC clinic, visit www.getvaccinatedberkshires.org.

Tags: BCC,   BHS,   BMC,   COVID-19,   vaccinations,   


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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street.  The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First. 

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said. 

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers. 

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center.  It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said. 

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it." 

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County. 

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle.  The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said. 

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