Gen pop before gen public
State plans virus vaccine priorities; puts front-line med workers first
Medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic will have priority for the first vaccines, according to a three-phase plan laid out by the state, with availability to the general public expected sometime in April — long after prisoners and people in homeless shelters.
“Our plan for the first round of vaccine shipments maximizes life-saving care for our most vulnerable residents and protects health care workers, first responders and workers doing COVID-facing work,” Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday.
Offering rare “good news” at a time when coronavirus cases are surging, Baker said an order for the first shipment of 59,475 doses from Pfizer was placed with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday and is expected to arrive around Tuesday. Roughly 300,000 doses are due by the end of December to be distributed to the most-vulnerable residents during the first phase of the vaccine rollout.
Phase 1 of the government’s vaccine distribution plan will bring shots to health care workers, longterm care facilities, emergency responders, jails, prisons and homeless shelters between December and February, Baker said.
Between February and April, Phase 2 will bring 1.9 million vaccines to high-risk people with two or more chronic illnesses and workers in “critical industries” including teachers, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health workers. People over 65 and those with a chronic illness that puts them at high risk of death come next, according to the state’s plan.
Vaccines are expected for distribution to the general public in April, Baker said. Delivery dates and quantities are subject to change due to ongoing federal approval, Baker said.
The Republican governor said vaccines would be distributed free of charge. Officials urged residents to learn more about the distribution plan by visiting mass.gov/covidvaccine.
In an effort to ensure equity, a 20% vaccine allocation will go to communities with high social vulnerability and prevalence of COVID-19.
The first vaccines, expected to earn emergency FDA approval this week, will be manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer and will require two doses administered three to four weeks apart.
“Effective immunity” will be achieved about six weeks after immunization on average, said Dr. Paul Biddinger, chief of emergency preparedness at Massachusetts General Hospital.
A “good chunk” of the country should be vaccinated within 6 to 9 months, leading to herd immunity, said Biddinger, who leads the state’s COVID vaccine advisory group.
Still, Baker said “we’re not out of the woods yet” and warned of “lumpiness” in the vaccine rollout.
The first order of vaccines will be delivered directly to 21 hospitals in 8 counties beginning next week, as well as to the Department of Public Health Immunization lab, according to the plan released by the administration.