Why are Brooklines vaccination rates lower than its neighbors'?
In Brookline, just over half the population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of last week. At first glance, the towns 51% vaccination rate looks unremarkable  that is, until you see the data from neighboring communities. The towns vaccination rate makes Brookline, a tony suburb adjacent to the Longwood Medical Area, an outlier among many of its Greater Boston neighbors, as state data shows. For example, 69% of the population is fully vaccinated in neighboring Newton. Even Boston, with a population more than 10 times the size of Brooklines, boasts a 54% vaccination rate. Statewide, more than 56% of the population is fully vaccinated. According to Brookline Health Commissioner Dr. Swannie Jett, overlapping zip codes could be partially to blame, with some vaccinated residents potentially being miscounted because they live in an area such as Chestnut Hill, where the zip code 02467 is shared by Newton, Brookline and Boston. The TAB has reached out to the states COVID-19 Command Center for confirmation. Access to vaccines poses another issue, according to Jett. In comparison to Newton, which has over 12 sites and hospitals, Brookline has three sites and no hospital, he wrote in an email. However, Brookline does have several hospitals located just over the border in Longwood, with the Hynes Convention Center and Reggie Lewis Center mass vaccination sites also in close proximity. (Hynes and Reggie Lewis are scheduled to close on June 22 and June 27, respectively.) The Governors Office targeted vaccines locations to communities with the highest COVID cases per population, Jett said. Brookline is one of the lowest per population in the state.  Indeed, the state did roll out targeted efforts to reach underserved and disproportionately impacted communities, with programs including pop-up clinics, mobile vaccination units and $4.7 million in grant funding to support local public health efforts. More:Brookline schools to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics  Brooklines Department of Public Health administered vaccines to homebound residents unable to travel easily to medical appointments, wrapping up vaccinations this week with the limited doses the health department has received, according to Jett. The town also ran a vaccine clinic on June 12, opening it up to all residents 18 years and older. The turnout, Jett said, was low.