SPENCER, Mass. - The Spencer Fire Department and volunteers are going door to door giving the COVID-19 vaccination to people who are homebound. 

Jeffery DeJong got his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in his Spencer home on Friday.

“This has been a blessing. A blessing," said DeJong. 

DeJong’s health conditions kept him from going places during the pandemic. He gets his groceries delivered and has been wanting to get the vaccine.

“As far as I'm concerned it's life saving. With my comorbidities, they say, I'd never make it," said DeJong. 

Jeannine and Earl Bengtson also got a shot in the arm. Earl, too, is housebound.

“Oh we're excited because we've been waiting. I mean, this is a great service. I don't know what we would have done. I could have gotten [a vaccine], but it was important for him to get it, too. My doctor stressed to me how important it was for me to get it, so that he wouldn't get the virus," said Jeannine Bengtson. 

The Spencer Fire Department helped vaccinate more than 40 people who are eligible but can’t leave their homes. They worked with the Rutland Regional Vaccine site to get the doses they needed.

“As a community, we need to provide these for seniors, and for those that can't get out. We have been working with those that can get out as well. We're setting up appointments for them," said Fire Chief Bob Parsons. 

Parsons says Spencer School nurses, along with other volunteers stepped up to help with the vaccinations. 

“This is what we do. We serve the community. We are a predominantly call volunteer department. And that's what we're all about is going out into the community and doing what we can to get them taken care of," said Parsons. 

Volunteers will be going back to give people their second doses in a few weeks. DeJong says after that second dose, he hopes to see his 24 grandkids and great-grandkids, from closer than the sidewalk.