Baker announces vaccine plan for Commonwealth

Date: 12/16/2020

BOSTON –  During an afternoon press conference on Dec. 9, Governor Charlie Baker announced the state’s COVID-19 vaccine plan including how many vaccines would be distributed and who would be among the first in the Commonwealth to receive the treatment.

Baker said the first shipment of the round one of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by both Moderna and Pfizer is expected to arrive in Massachusetts on Dec. 15. However, he emphasized that the state will only be distributing the vaccines to be given if it is approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Massachusetts won’t distribute the vaccine until it gets FDA authorization for emergency use,” he said.

He then went on to outline how the Commonwealth would distribute the first shipment of vaccines to ensure “the first round maximizes lifesaving care for our most vulnerable residents and protects healthcare workers, first responders and workers doing COVID facing work.” This, he explained, was to ensure “our healthcare system can continue to treat patients.”

While Baker emphasized that the plan will evolve based on federal approvals of the vaccine and shipments from vaccine manufacturers, he said the plan had already been approved by the federal government. The vaccine, he said, would be distributed in phases.

The first phase, “in order of priority,” will include clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers “doing direct and COVID facing care”; long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities; police, fire and emergency medical professionals; congregate care facilities including shelters and correctional facilities; home-based healthcare workers and healthcare workers doing non-COVID-19 facing care.

This, Baker said, was due to the risk of COVID-19 that those in the healthcare field faced. “Clinical and non-clinical workers doing direct care and COVID-19 facing care are at the highest risk for COVID exposure due to what they do every day,” he said.

The Commonwealth is expected to receive around 300,000 first doses of the vaccine by the end of December, with an order for 60,000 placed recently and expected on Dec. 15. The shipment will contain vaccines from both Moderna and Pfizer, he said.

Of the first 300,000 first doses Baker said 164,000 will be distributed to clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers doing direct COVID-19 facing care; 64,000 would be distributed to first responders including police, fire and EMS; and about 102,000 would be distributed to congregate care residents and staff.

Baker said vaccines would be distributed to 32 hospitals across the state that serve a variety of regions across the Commonwealth. He said in order for hospitals to accept a shipment of the vaccine it was “critical” they have access to the storage or dry ice needed to properly store the vaccines.

If “everything goes according to plan,” the second phase of distribution will begin in February, but Baker did not specify when. The second phase, he said, would continue distributing to phase one groups, but also distribute vaccines to “workers in critical industries and individuals with one or more comorbidities.”

This, he explained, would extend to the “broader universe of adults over 65 that are at a higher risk for COVID-19.” Also included in those who would qualify to receive the first round of the vaccine in phase are “workers in K through 12, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health, adults that are over 65 and individuals with one comorbidities.”

Baker said additional shipments of the vaccine were expected to arrive in the Commonwealth throughout January, February and March and they were hoping to make the vaccine available to “younger and healthier people,” later in the spring “with an approximate goal of starting in April.”

The vaccine would be free to all, Baker said, and insurance companies would not charge those receiving it for out of pocket or co-pay costs. He emphasized that there were six weeks in between doses of the vaccine, and several months away from “safely vaccinating the majority of Massachusetts.” This meant it was very important for everyone to continue wearing their mask, practicing good hygiene and social distancing.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, keep following the guidance,” Baker said. He also asked the public to “be patient and get news from trusted sources.”

More information about Massachusetts’ complete COVID-19 vaccine plan can be found online at https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-covid-19-vaccine-presentation-1292020/download.