I was pleased to see the Northampton Board of Health finally require COVID vaccinations starting Jan. 17 for admission to the Senior Center. One in 100 people over the age of 65 have died due to COVID-19. Now omicron is on the way, spreads two times faster and is four times more transmissible than the delta strain. Although breakthrough infections occur, receiving a booster COVID vaccination doubles vaccine effectiveness and increases protection from severe disease to over 80%. As omicron surges, the Board of Health should additionally mandate booster vaccinations for those eligible to receive them who wish to use the Senior Center.
Let’s not be too little, too late.
Karen Beyel
Florence