The MetroWest Pharmacy and the Framingham Coronavirus Community Outreach Group have partnered to create a
community-based Framingham Vaccine Hotline Center. People who need help booking COVID-19 vaccines can call
the toll-free number at (833)283-3939, Monday-Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
MetroWest Pharmacy
214 Union Ave
Framingham, MA 01702
(508) 405-0609
https://metrowestpharmacy.com
For more information, contact:
Nicole Doak
Framingham Coronavirus Community Outreach group
(508) 596-4846
FraminghamOutreach@gmail.com
The MetroWest Pharmacy and the Framingham Coronavirus Community Outreach Group have partnered to create
a community-based Framingham Vaccine Hotline Center. Many residents eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination
are experiencing difficulty and frustration finding and making on-line appointments. The demand for
appointments outweighs vaccine availability, and the appointments must be made online. MetroWest Pharmacy
owner Shivang Patel and Framingham Coronavirus Community Outreach Group founder Nicole Doak established
a Vaccine Help Call Center in the MetroWest Pharmacy dedicated to answering resident questions, finding
and making appointments, and providing rides and special accommodations to those in need.
The entire hotline system is safe, secure, and HIPAA-compliant. Personal information is collected by
health care clinician and technician volunteers. The MetroWest Vaccine Call Center's forms, email,
and server are HIPAA-approved.
"This past year, we have seen many severe illnesses and casualties caused by COVID-19 pandemic,"
said Patel. "This is our time to work together so we can end this together. With the help of all
the volunteers, we can help your loved ones get vaccinated as well as provide all support they need."
Residents who have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine or who need help finding and/or making
an appointment can call the toll-free number at (833) 283-3939 and press 1 to reach the MetroWest
Pharmacy Vaccine Hotline. Trained, multi-lingual volunteers having been answering calls since Monday,
February 1st. The Pharmacy Vaccine Help Call Center is open Mondays-Fridays, 9am-6pm and on Saturdays,
9am-2pm.
“The online system is confusing even for best of us. It requires a high degree of internet savvy,
an email address, printing capabilities, and often times luck" explained Doak. "The MetroWest Pharmacy
Vaccination Hotline handles everything - from finding and booking the vaccination appointments to
printing out the attestation and confirmation emails to securing rides and special accommodations.
Plus, it's nice chatting with isolated residents!"
The hotline is for Framingham residents. Appointments will be booked for those eligible to receive
the vaccine. Those ages 65-74 and those with two comorbidities will go on a wait list and will be
contacted once they become eligible. Framingham residents calling the hotline can have the choice of
booking an appointment at MetroWest Pharmacy or at a site in Framingham, in MetroWest, or in Massachusetts.
The MetroWest Pharmacy is one of the 30 privately-owned pharmacies in Massachusetts who will receive
the COVID-19 vaccine. Patel has a freezer that can store up to 10,000 doses of both the Moderna and
Pfizer vaccine. As soon as the pharmacy receives its doses, the pharmacy will begin vaccinating
eligible residents who are on the pharmacy's waitlist.
Anyone interested in volunteering can submit a volunteer form found on the MetroWest Pharmacy website
at https://metrowestpharmacy.com or on the Framingham Coronavirus Community Outreach group website
at https://framinghamoutreach.org/.
"Volunteers have the opportunity to be a part of an effort that future generations will look back on
as a remarkable community effort," Doak said. "I hope everyone who is able to help joins this cause.
What a tremendous and wonderful opportunity to be a part of something so important,” said Doak.
