DORCHESTER (CBS) – While Bridget Colvin of Roxbury tweeted on Monday, she finishes her lunch and thinks, ‘I’m just going to see what happens,’ she told WBZ-TV. “And I could get a dose.”
Colvin was one of dozens of people who saw a tweet warning residents that the Russell Auditorium Vaccination Clinic in Talbot Street in Dorchester would allow access to appointments all day on Monday.
The only requirements? Be over 18 and live in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan or Randolph.
ICYMI: if you are over 18 or working in ** Dorchester, Roxbury, Randolph or Mattapan **, you can get a COVID vaccine – a run-up, no appointment required, regardless of general permission, at Russell Auditorium on Talbot. Check-in hours, usually lasting up to 3, are currently short-lived.
– welcome to dot 🆙 🆙 (@WelcomeToDot) 5 April 2021
According to posts on Twitter, as well as photos of the line, dozens of people were able to arrive at the site and get a first chance, even though they are not eligible for the vaccine according to current state requirements.
“I definitely cried at the vaccination site,” Colvin told WBZ. ‘I can not believe it! I can not believe this is happening. ”
Colvin told WBZ the line was about 90 minutes long, well organized and showed that people have a clear enthusiasm for being vaccinated. “It was really encouraging to see so many people in line,” she said. “It was 18 plus, but there was a huge variety of race and age.”
Boston Medical Center, which operates the vaccine clinic at Russell Auditorium, calls the walk-in line a ‘mistake’.
“As a result of an error in the clinic’s pre-registration process, the community vaccination clinic run by Boston Medical Center and local partners at Russell Auditorium began vaccinating residents 18 and older,” reads a statement from ” a BMC spokesperson. “The clinic has stopped the vaccinations for that age group, and we are sticking to the guidelines before the end later this month.
Yet people like Bridget Colvin feel grateful that they received a dose of vaccine. “I originally thought we would be happy if we got it at the end of the summer,” she said. “And that was good. I want to see people who need it get it. ”
All adults aged 16 and older will be eligible for the Massachusetts vaccine from April 19.
Visit Mass.Gov/CovidVaccine to find out when you are eligible and to book an appointment.