Board of Aldermen 01-12-2021 Page 9
It is not mandated but we are hoping that as many people that can will be vaccinated so that we can create
the herd immunity that is needed so that we can see COVID slow down and just be done. | think we are all
kind of done with this. And so as we move into this next Phase of Vaccine Allocation, this will help us get
there quicker. | know that we have some our Board of Health Members that are on. President Wilshire, if
there’s time for them to give some comment to some of this information as well as the impact that we
expect to see going forward.
President Wilshire
We would be happy to take comment from the Board of Health; in fact, encourage it. So anyone? Chuck
Cappetta.
Charles Cappetta, M.D., Board of Health
Hi, | am Chuck Cappetta, Pediatrician in Nashua and Board of Health Member. Madam President thank
you and the Mayor and you wonderful Aldermen, thank you for all your help these last few months on this
very difficult and devastating illness. | can only, and of course, thank Bobbie and Angela for their hard work
and the Public Health Department for all they are putting together, these slides. On behalf of our fellow
members, | just can’t emphasize as a frontline worker, that the fight isn’t over. | think the vaccine rollout
was a big step but every day it’s just what we have said here; handwashing, social distancing, mask
wearing, can’t be forgotten. We have seen with our discussion over the past few weeks over the curfew
and things like that, that we are seeing some of the effects of what has happened and the two Holidays that
it brought. So | thank the Board again for having that great discussion; that was very good.
But | think individually we be held accountable both at the household level and our individual bubbles. |
think we have to expand those bubbles only very and judiciously and carefully. I’ve heard today even in my
office, OH once we get the vaccine maybe we will be able to go see everybody. And | think that’s the
problem here, | think it’s really a fallacy what the vaccine will do. It’s a great step, but it’s not going to
protect everybody. So its each individual’s right to have the vaccine and take it, but | think we just need to
keep pushing through; it’s a marathon not a 100 yard dash. And at the School Level at the individual
clinics, on the front line back line and everything in-between, | think we are just blessed that we have an
opportunity to maybe make a change here but we are a long way to go. So that would be first initial
comments. | am happy to take questions, too.
President Wilshire
Anyone have questions for Dr. Cappetta? Alderman Dowd?
Alderman Dowd
Yes, | am not sure who can answer this but are we getting the amount of vaccine that we expected? And |
noticed that there’s a lot of places like in Massachusetts where they are setting up centers for giving the
vaccines. They are making exceptions as to who can give the shots and they are giving everyone their first
does rather than waiting for the vaccines for second dose. Can you address any of those as to how we are
addressing that either in New Hampshire or specifically Nashua?
Dr. Cappetta
| probably would allow my colleague Bobbie in helping with that answer but | also speak for Dartmouth. |
just think we, since I’ve been at Dartmouth for 30 years, we have just been told that the State didn’t get
their allocated amount that, | don’t know how the process happened. But | think everybody asked for a
certain quota but given Federal Mandates or things down the pathway | think every State is witnessing the
decrease in the amount they expected and now having second Plan B’s and Plan C’s come into play.
