Mayor Tyer Cautions Residents Against Vaccine Line Jumping

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Linda Tyer on Tuesday voiced concern on an issue with line jumping for COVID-19 vaccinations to the City Council.

"I know you're anxious," Tyer said to the council and the general public during the Zoom meeting. "We all want to get vaccinated but there is a very specific process, especially as it relates to the timing of first and second doses. It's really important that we follow the protocols that are in place so that people who are eligible for a second dose are able to get into those appointments."

More than 200 people showed up at Saturday's second vaccination clinic at Berkshire Community College expecting to receive the first vaccination and were turned away because community members were sharing the private link for scheduling a second dose with friends and family, Tyer said.

When community members sign up for the wrong dosage, that is reportedly taking vaccination appointments from those who are eligible.

"What's happening is, understandably, because people are so eager and so anxious to get vaccinated, members of the community are sharing that link with their friends and their family," Tyer explained. "And so people are using that link to schedule a first dose, even though that isn't the intention of that link. And what that means is, for example, we had close to 200 people who tried to get a first dose on Saturday. That means, though, that there were 200 people who didn't, or couldn't get an appointment for their second dose for which they are eligible to receive."

Most doses being received in the Berkshires over the last couple weeks have been for people to receive their second shot of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. 

The BCC site aims to have clinics on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays but this depends on the vaccine allocation that is received from the state. The clinics will continue to run those three days and if the time comes when they receive a larger allocation of the vaccine, they can expand days and hours.

"I think that is something for us to be really proud of, and I think it speaks to the organization that's happened around getting vaccines available to the people of our communities," she said.

Teacher of the Month: Cindy Chevett

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:04PM / Saturday, August 31, 2024

Cindy Chevett has been with Head Start her entire career. She says teaching is challenging but also very rewarding. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Head Start preschool teacher Cindy Chevett has been selected as the August Teacher of the Month. 

 

The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next nine months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here. 

 

To Chevett, the best part of being a teacher is seeing her students achieve even just the little things, such as writing the letter E or their name. 

 

"It is the best job ever," she says with a smile and tears in her eyes as she says, "I love seeing them achieve."  

 

She said although teaching can be challenging, the classroom environment is very fun and the job is very rewarding. 

 

"There's children that come in and can't really speak so that you can understand them, and modeling, and when they leave the classroom, you can understand them. That was one of my best achievements with the child," Chevett said. 

 

In Chevett's classroom, the students take control of their learning, instilling in them a love of learning.