Baker Calls On Local Leaders To Help With MA Vaccination Effort

MASSACHUSETTS — Gov. Charlie Baker met with more than 100 local leaders Friday and asked them to help in the state's effort to dole out booster doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

"We have a ton of supply — that’s not our problem," Baker said at a Massachusetts Municipal Association meeting. "What we’re looking for is additional capacity to administer the vaccine in the Commonwealth. … The good news is, the appetite for boosters among those who are eligible has picked up dramatically."

That's nearly a complete about-face from last spring, when there were not enough doses for everyone who wanted one during the first push of the vaccination effort. Since Massachusetts gave the green light for all adults to get COVID-19 booster shots last month, residents have grown increasingly frustrated as they try to find appointments for booster shots, as well as children between the ages of 5 and 11, who were cleared to get the vaccine in November.

While the state is administering between 40,000 and 50,000 shots per day at about 1,000 locations, the demand is outpacing the number of available appointments. Baker asked the municipal officials to set up local and regional clinics to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.

Baker was joined at Friday's meeting by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Health and Human Services Secretary MaryLou Sudders. The push comes as Massachusetts sees asurge in all coronavirus metrics — a surge that is expected to continue through the holiday season and this winter.

Polito said 82 percent of the state’s adults are fully vaccinated, and 23 percent have received a booster. Massachusetts has been in the top 3 states for vaccination rates since vaccines first became available earlier this year.

"We need your help," Scudder said. "You know your communities best."