Government

Watertown Appoints New Director of Health Department

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The following announcement came from the City of Watertown:

Congratulations to Abbey Myers, the City of Watertown’s new permanent Director of Public Health, effective, Monday, February 5, 2024. Abbey has been a key member of the Health Department’s staff since she was hired, providing customer service while coordinating many aspects of public health, from updating our COVID policy, to attending emergency management training, building our new rodent policy, establishing better rules for dumpsters, and catching bats (yes . . . bats!). 

She stepped up into the Interim Director role, in August of 2023, where she has served the public well, staffing the Board of Health meetings, managing the Health Department staff, and organizing the Department’s move to the Parker Annex last week.

Government

Watertown Health Department Moving to New Location

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As part of a plan to reorganize Watertown’s municipal departments, the Health Department will be moving out of City Hall. The Health Department will be one of the departments moving south of the Charles River to the Parker Annex building, formerly the Parker School. The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The Watertown Health Department is moving on February 1, 2024 to the Parker Annex at 124 Watertown Street, 3G, Watertown, MA 02472. They will still have the same phone number of 617-972-6446, all of the same contact information, and the same webpage. See the google map and get directions.

Around Town

Flu Shots Available at the Watertown Senior Center

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The following information is provided by the City of Watertown:

The Watertown Public Health Department is offering the influenza vaccine to Watertown Senior Residents at the Watertown Senior Center, located at 31 Marshall Street, on Friday, October 6, 2023 and Friday, October 13, 2023 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Senior residents can register here to sign up an appointment and secure their dose. Please bring your ID and health insurance card(s) with you (if you have insurance). Please wear loose or short sleeves if possible. If you have any problems signing up for your flu shot online, please call the Health Department at 617-972-6446, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., and they will help you.

Around Town

Watertown Health Department Holding Household Sharps Collection

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Watertown residents can dispose of needles, syringes, and lancets during the Watertown Health Department’s household sharps collection on Saturday Aug. 5. The Health Department provided the following information:

Syringes may be discarded by bringing them to the Household Sharps Collection days. Follow these tips (PDF) while handling syringes. Sharps Collection Registration Form (PDF)

Household sharps collection days:

April 1, August 5, and December 2, 20239 a.m. to NoonCity Hall, 149 Main St.Parking lot rear of the building

Watertown Residents can bring the following items on collection days:

Used needles, syringes and lancets that are stored in sturdy puncture-proof containers

Unused capped needles, syringes and lancets in original packaging

Unused EpiPens in original packaging.

Around Town

OP-ED: How Safe is Watertown from a Bio Lab Emergency? Part 3

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CSET, Georgetown University

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

In my interview with Mr. Larry Ramdin, Watertown’s Director of Public Health, I focused mainly on the nuts and bolts of permitting and keeping track of bio labs entering Watertown as a safety issue. After our telephone conversation, I followed up by sending this interview to Mr. Ramdin to review. I’d like to thank Mr. Ramdin for his input. At my request, Mr. Ramdin sent me the most recent list of bio labs in Watertown. Although the list contained 63 separate entries, at least 14 had the same company name as another, which Mr. Ramdin explained in some cases indicated two divisions of the same company.

Government

Rodent Control to be Discussed at Follow Up Meeting by Human Services Committee

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Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashRodent control will be discussed by the Committee on Human Services on Dec. 15, 2022. The following announcement was provided by City Councilor Tony Palomba:

Please join me and my colleagues on the Council’s Committee on Human Services for a follow-up meeting on the rodent problem in Watertown and efforts to establish a citywide rodent control plan. The meeting of the Committee is on Thursday of this week, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the Second Floor of City Hall, 149 Main St.

Around Town

Watertown Holding Household Sharps Disposal & Collection Day

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The Watertown Health Department will be collecting needles, syringes and other household sharps on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at City Hall. The Health Department provided the following information. Syringes may be discarded by bringing them to the Household Sharps Collection days. Follow these tips (PDF) while handling syringes.

Around Town

Watertown Health Department Offering Flu Shot Clinic

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

The Watertown Health Department will be offering the influenza vaccine for Watertown Residents (age 18+) on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 1st floor – Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room, 123 Main St., Watertown. Please use the following registration link to sign up your appointment and secure your dose: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/watertown?calendar=61d94aef-0681-4297-8276-af4030d5149d

The clinic is open to everyone with or without insurance. Walk-ins are welcome. Please bring your ID and health insurance card(s) with you (if you have insurance).