WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior Robert got his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. He says news of the Delta variant motivated him to take action.

"I've been a little hesitant to get it," Robert said. "But the more I see everyone without masks and the world moving along, I said you know what, 'I drove up here, I seen them doing it and said I might as well do it.'"

Robert was one of several people taking advantage of a clinic on Main Street in Worcester. Anyone who walked by was able to get a shot.

"We've spent all the time, money, and research developing the vaccine," said State Senator Michael Moore. "We're trying to make sure people are safe in the community. But we've got to make sure everyone has access."

Senator Moore stopped in to encourage the unvaccinated to line up.

"The longer the virus is out there, we're providing it more opportunity to mutate again," Sen. Moore said. "So we could go from the delta variant to another for of variant." 

What You Need To Know

  • Worcester has surpassed the 60% mark of residents vaccinated
  • Dr. Michael Hirsh says the city may be approaching a wall when it comes to the number of people vaccinated
  • Fourth of July celebrations expected to have played a role in the city's higher case numbers in recent weeks.

According to the City of Worcester's Medical Director, Dr. Michael Hirsh, Worcester has surpassed the 60% vaccinated threshold.

"This seems to be an epidemic now of the folks who have not vaccinated," Dr. Hirsh said.

Dr. Hirsh says there is a possibility Worcester has reached the wall when it comes to vaccinating residents. With more than 60% vaccinated, and a percentage of people already contracting COVID, the city could be headed towards a sort of unofficial herd immunity.

"There are some unvaccinated people who did get COVID, so they have some immunity in and among themselves," Dr. Hirsh said. "So we might already be at like a 70%, 75% number, and maybe this is going to be ok. We don't want to count on that."

Robert will soon add to the percentage of the city’s fully vaccinated. He says he's glad he didn't wait any longer. "Now that I got the second one, it makes me a lot more at ease. It's definitely a relief," Robert said.

Dr. Hirsh says even though the City of Worcester's cases have seen a rise over the last couple of weeks, it doesn't come as a surprise because people were celebrating the Fourth of July holiday. Still though, he believes the city is on the right track to eliminating the COVID-19 pandemic.