Boston Seafarers Centers announce onboard vaccination clinics for officers and crew in the port of Boston.
Aiming for the arms of seafarers
Boston— 18-June-2021 — We are pleased at the New England Seafarers Mission and Seafarers Friend to share the good news that vaccinations are available for seafarers who work aboard industrial ships particularly as they continue to do their work keeping the world economy rolling, just as they have done throughout the pandemic.
It would not be an overstatement to note that the relief of stress and anxiety for crew is a lifeline to them. In fact, many lives are impacted by being able to offer the opportunity for vaccination while in the ports of New England without having to leave their vessel (often a first US port for many ships coming from Europe). Many of the more than 1.5 million seafarers come from nations such as Philippines and India where vaccination is not yet widely available.
Setting up the Vaccinations at Conley Terminal, South Boston
Although the Seafarers Center located at the Raymond L Flynn Cruise Terminal in South Boston is a ‘covid safe’ facility, this does not help seafarers who remain restricted on board while docked at the nearby Conley container terminal. Transportation to available vaccination sites nearby would not be possible for many of those crewmembers without US Visas nor would the two shot vaccines. Ship schedules are such that they would not be able to return within the time required for the 2nd shot. In Boston we had to put together an effective plan that was both quick and practical to be helpful at all.
Through a sizable collaboration involving the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA), New England Seafarers Mission (NESM), Seafarers Friend, the US Coast Guard Boston headquarters, DMSE, (Management Logistics) CiC health (the vaccine provider) Cataldo ambulance (delivery system), Mass.gov, and in coordination with MassPort, MSC Shipping, and Norton-Lily, this is now happening. It is a privilege that our seafarers centers can communicate with incoming ship captains and shipping agents, make logistical arrangements, and chaplains with TWIC cards escort the medical team directly aboard to administer Covid-19 shots. The outcome is that ship crews have been able to receive the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The first vaccinations administered at the Conley Container terminal in South Boston occurred June 12th onboard the MSC Vaishnavi. NESM Chaplain Stephen Cushing escorted the medical team from Cataldo Ambulance onboard the vessel and set up their onboard clinic in the officers’ day room. 26 crew members then lined up to receive their long-awaited vaccination. Our second visit at Conley is for June 19th and more vaccinations are planned as shipping lines and captains request them.
