State phasing out mass vax sites
Focus shifting to mobile clinics for hard-hit spots
Massachusetts will begin to “gradually close” its seven mass vaccination sites that have played a key role in turning the Bay State a national leader when it comes to inoculating residents, Gov. Charlie Baker announced.
Four mass vaccination sites — at Gillette Stadium, Hynes, DoubleTree in Danvers and the Natick Mall — will be phased out by the end of June as the state nears its goal of fully vaccinating 4.1 million residents, Baker said during his regular briefing at the State House on Monday.
“It’s time to adapt our vaccination effort to make sure we get to some of the harder to reach populations,” Baker said.
Massachusetts is outperforming the rest of the country “by leaps and bounds,” and the Republican governor said he expects to reach his vaccination goal by early June.
Baker credited the mass vaccination sites that have “played a critical role” in helping the state ramp up vaccination efforts over a “very short period of time.”
“This represents an incredible achievement,” Baker said.
Dr. Paul Biddinger, medical director for emergency preparedness at Mass General Brigham and chairman of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine advisory group, joined Baker at the podi
um on Monday saying, already roughly 70% of Massachusetts residents have received at least their first vaccines, “which is just extraordinary.”
About 1.2 million doses have been administered so far at the high-volume vaccination centers and the sites have fully vaccinated a halfmillion people. The state will be refocusing efforts on mobile vaccination clinics as it “enters this next phase,” according to the governor. That means the state’s 22 regional collaboratives will receive more doses with dose allocations to the state’s 20 hardest-hit communities to be doubled.
Mobile vaccination efforts in cities including Boston, New Bedford, Chelsea, Brockton, Fall River and Springfield have administered 21,000 doses already, Baker said.
“Mobile clinics have been particularly effective in our equity communities, and to reach people of color,” Baker said, noting about 60% of the shots administered at the clinics in houses of worship, senior centers and other community spaces have gone to minorities.
Health Secretary Marylou Sudders said mobile vaccination clinics will take on a larger role, and hinted at an expansion in the availability of walk-in clinics coming “soon” as demand for appointments begins to level off.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said the “demand for appointments at all vaccination sites — including mass vaccination sites — has stabilized.”
Baker said on Monday there were open appointments for coronavirus vaccines in “every part of the state” including at mass vaccination sites, retail pharmacies and elsewhere.