Gov. Baker: Feds need to do a better job on vaccine pipeline

BOSTON (AP) — The federal government needs to do a better job letting states know how much vaccine they can expect to receive so they can best plan how to vaccinate the most vulnerable populations before expanding to the general public, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Friday.

Currently Massachusetts receives about a week’s notice and that’s been adding to the frustration around how best to plan the state’s vaccination effort, Baker said.

“There is not a lot of visibility in how far ahead you can look with respect to what you can expect to get from the vaccine program,” the Republican said. “We’re sort of working on a one week window into what happens next. We’re told on a Tuesday what we’re going to get the following week.”

There are about 660,000 individuals in phase one of the state’s vaccination plan including medical workers, first responders and residents of long term care and congregate living facilities.

The state has so-far received about 420,000 doses — far less than the more than 1.3 million doses needed since each individual will need two doses to be considered fully vaccinated.

Baker said the federal government has been saying the state can expect about 80,000 or more doses a week.

The state is capable of administering more doses if the federal government can create more clarity about what exactly is in the pipeline, he said.

“I am not at all worried about whether or not we will have the capacity on the ground to put shots in the arms to everybody who’s eligible based on our criteria if the federal government gives us a little guidance and a little visibility into how much we can expect with certainty over more than just a week,” he said.

GILLETTE STADIUM

VACCINATIONS

The first mass COVID-19 vaccination facility in Massachusetts opened Friday at the home of the New England Patriots on a limited basis before its official launch next week.

A small number of health care workers and first responders received the Moderna vaccines at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, according to CIC Health, which is managing the site on behalf of the state.

The site is located in the 40,000 square-foot Putnam Club, often used as a ballroom or meeting area.

“Gillette Stadium is accustomed to accommodating large audiences and we are honored to provide a safe location to expedite the vaccination of first responders, and to soon expand to residents throughout the Commonwealth,” Jim Nolan, the chief operating officer of the stadium that seats nearly 66,000 for sporting events and concerts, said in a statement.

Fallon Ambulance is supporting preparation and administration of the vaccines, while Mass General Brigham is providing medical oversight.

The goal is to start vaccinating about 300 people per day starting Monday, eventually working up to administering thousands per day, CIC said in a statement. Vaccinations will be by appointment.

“Mass vaccination sites will play a critical role in distributing COVID vaccines as safely and quickly as possible,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. “We are grateful to the Kraft family and everyone who worked with our administration to quickly set up the mass vaccination site at Gillette Stadium, which will ramp up to vaccinate up to 5,000 people per day.”

VIRUS BY THE NUMBERS

The number of newly confirmed coronavirus deaths rose by 75 on Friday while the number of newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased by more than 5,000.

The new deaths pushed the state’s confirmed COVID-19 death toll to 13,231 and its confirmed caseload since the start of the pandemic to more than 438,000.

The true number of cases is likely higher because studies suggest some people can be infected and not feel sick.

There were more than 2,200 people reported hospitalized Friday because of confirmed cases of COVID-19, with about 450 in intensive care units.

The average age of those hospitalized was 73. There were an estimated more than 93,000 current active cases of COVID-19 in the state.

The number of probable or confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported in long-term care facilities rose to 7,724.

CAPE COD

With no current plans by the state to open a mass vaccination site on Cape Cod, Barnstable County is taking matters into its own hands.

County officials said Thursday they plan to work with towns to open five regional vaccination clinics on Cape Cod as early as phase two of the state’s vaccine schedule, which starts next month, Sean O’Brien, director of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, said during a Cape Cod Reopening Task Force call Thursday, the Cape Cod Times reported.

The county also plans to establish a hotline number where people can get the latest information about testing and vaccination, he said.

The Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis and the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth are under consideration for regional vaccination sites, according to Vaira Harik, deputy director of the county’s department of human services.

State approval is required to register the regional sites for COVID-19 vaccination clinics, O’Brien said.