Baker: MA Has Plenty Of COVID Vaccine For Kids | Patch PM

WILMINGTON, MA — It's Thursday, Nov. 4. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• Several races in Tuesday's municipal elections in Massachusetts were decided by a handful of votes and are now heading towards a recount.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is grappling with a series of student deaths, including the fourth since July on Monday.
• A police dog is being credited with help find a suicidal person in Danvers.

Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Today's Top Story

Doses of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines started to arrive in Massachusetts last week, and state officials "don't anticipate any supply issues," Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday.

Speaking from Boston Children's Hospital, Baker said parents can now begin making appointments for kids aged 5 to 11, the latest age group to become eligible for the shots.

Baker said more than 500 vaccine sites are so far offering the Pfizer pediatric vaccine, including pediatricians' offices, pharmacies, community health centers, hospitals and clinics sponsored by both the state and local health boards.

Read the full story.

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Thursday's Other Top Stories

Election recounts: Several races in Tuesday's municipal elections were close and are now heading towards a recount. Unofficial election results showed District 1 Town Councilor Julia Flaherty with a six-vote lead over challenger Jodi Walorz-Killeffer. Walorz-Killeffer has requested a recount. Losing Salem city council candidate Stephanie Rodriguez said she is "looking into the process" of a recount after falling nine votes shy in Ward 4. In Framingham, District 3 Councilor Adam Steiner has a two-vote margin over challenger Mary Kate Feeney, who said a recount is "likely."

Concern over student deaths: Worcester Polytechnic Institute is grappling with a series of student deaths, according to a report. Four students have died on campus since July with the latest on Monday, according to WBUR. At least two of the deaths have been confirmed as suicides.

Police dog helps find distraught person: It's been an eventful past day or so for the Danvers police K-9 Stryka. One day, Stryka was potentially saving a person's life. The next day, Stryka was celebrating a birthday. Danvers police wished a happy 8th birthday to Stryka on Thursday one day after police said Stryka successfully tracked and located a suicidal person in town.

Guilty plea in sex-trafficking case: A Dorchester man pleaded guilty Monday in Boston federal court to multiple sex-trafficking charges associated with a Newton police case, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Bruce "Arki" Brown, 43, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, transportation of a minor for purposes of prostitution, two counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. He faces a $250,000 fine and life in prison for several of these charges.

Picture This: Back On Oprah's List

Waltham-based artisanal food company Eastern Standard Provisions's Gourmet Liège Belgian Waffle Gift Box is included in Oprah's Favorite Things 2021 holiday gift list. The Oprah's Favorite Things list is an annual holiday shopping guide that features decadent desserts, ingenious gadgets, and the finest finds in home, fashion, and beauty. This year marks the list's 25th Anniversary.

In Case You Missed It

Complaints accuse ex-teacher, newly-elected school committee member threatening parent: Newly-elected school committee member Matt Lynch made transphobic social media posts and threatened a parent while still working as a special education teacher at Braintree High School, according to complaints filed by parents, teachers and students. Lynch resigned from the school system in February, a month after he attended the Jan. 6 rally in support of President Donald Trump that turned violent as some attendees stormed the Capitol. While the 27 complaints mostly focused on Lynch's trip to Washington, they also touched on other areas, including posts he made on social media and comments made to parents.

Student accused of beating principal: A 16-year-old high school student was arrested and charged with assault and battery in connection to the alleged beating of the principal of her Boston school that took place Wednesday on school grounds. The principal was hospitalized. According to Boston Public School officials, the incident took place Wednesday at the Dr. William K. Henderson K-12 Inclusion School's Upper Campus on Croftland Ave. in Dorchester. Principal Tricia Lampron suffered injuries as students were being dismissed at the end of the day.