MA Vaccine Distribution Plan: General Public Waits Until April

MASSACHUSETTS — The general public in Massachusetts could receive the COVID-19 vaccine as early as April under a three-phase distribution plan unveiled Wednesday by Gov. Charlie Baker.

The state expects to receive the first 59,475 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by Dec. 15. Medical workers would get vaccinated in the first phase of the program, which will start as soon as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gives final approval.

The first doses will go to 21 hospitals across eight counties and the Department of Public Health immunization lab, then redistributed to 74 hospitals across the state for front-line medical workers.

The next 40,000 vaccine doses will go to the Federal Pharmacy Program and are earmarked for long-term care facility staff and residents.

See the vaccine timeline and priority list below.

A total of 300,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna are expected to be distributed by the end of the year and over 2 million doses by the end of March.

The timeline for each phase is just an estimated one right now. Vaccines not getting immediate approval could impact how many are available.

The vaccines will be distributed for free with no co-payments.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines need to be administered twice about three to four weeks apart.

Related: Coronavirus Restrictions, Masks May Be Here 6 to 9 More Months

Phase One (December - February)

• 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 services
• Congregate care settings (including corrections and shelters)
• Home-based healthcare workers
• Healthcare workers doing non-COVID-facing care

Phase Two (February - April)

• Individuals with 2+ comorbidties (high-risk for COVID-19 complications)
• Early education, K-12, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health workers
• Adults 65+
• Individuals with comorbidities

Phase three (April - June)

• General public