A spokesperson for Berkshire County's two hospitals said the region's success in COVID-19 vaccination has been all about collaboration.
Public health data show Berkshire County leading Massachusetts in the percentage of residents fully vaccinated. The state does not operate a permanent mass vaccination site in the county.
But a group of municipal health departments, Berkshire Health Systems and others have banded together to operate local sites in in North Adams, Pittsfield and Great Barrington. The group is known as the Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative.
"It's not just one organization or another trying to open up a site," said Michael Leary, a spokesman with BHS. "It is truly a partnership between a number of different of organizations that have far-reaching figures out into the community."
During a virtual press conference Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker recognized Berkshire County for its vaccination efforts.
"The bookends in Massachusetts — Barnstable County and Berkshire County — are actually outperforming the rest of the commonwealth," Baker said. "Kudos to both of you for that."
Both counties Baker mentioned have older populations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 30% of residents in Barnstable County are age 65 and over, the most in the state. In Berkshire County, it's almost 24%. State guidelines currently make anyone in that age bracket eligible for vaccination.
Leary said he does not believe age has been a factor for Berkshire County's vaccination success.
"It’s because we have established a smooth program with convenient locations and the state, in its distribution of vaccine, recognizes the importance of providing adequate vaccine for the most rural areas of the commonwealth and the urban areas," Leary said in an email.
Thirteen percent of Berkshire County residents have received both vaccination doses. In western Massachusetts, Franklin County has the next highest two-shot vaccination rate at 9.1%, followed by Hampshire County at 8.4% and Hampden County at 7.3%.
