Million More In MA Eligible For Coronavirus Vaccine

MASSACHUSETTS — Monday is a big day in the state's trudge to normalcy, which is gaining some traction even as new coronavirus cases continue to mount.

About 1 million more residents this morning became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine as the state rounds out Phase Two of the prioritization plan.

People who are between the ages of 55 and 59 or have a certain medical condition can now book vaccination appointments. Massachusetts over the weekend fully adopted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eligibility list for medical conditions, meaning anyone with the following can schedule an appointment:

Cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung diseases (including moderate-to-severe asthma,) dementia or other neurological conditions, Type 1 or 2 Diabetes, Down syndrome, heart conditions, HIV infection, are in an immunocompromised state, liver disease, overweight or obese, pregnant, current or former smoker, a solid organ or blood stem cell transplant, a stroke or cerebrovascular disease or have a substance abuse disorder. Get more information at the CDC website.

In two weeks every Massachusetts resident older than 16 will be eligible for a vaccine.

People can still find vaccination appointments at the state website or can pre-register and be alerted when an appointment opens at a mass vaccination site near them.

More than 1.47 million Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated, the Department of Public Health reported. Gov. Charlie Baker has said the state has capacity to inoculate at a faster rate if the federal government can provide enough vaccine.

Also Monday, many elementary students made their return to a regular five-day-a-week in-person schedule after more than a year of alternative learning models.

The state is moving forward on reopening schools even as case counts continue to rise in most districts. Last week's school coronavirus tracker recorded 1,045 new cases in students and staff, the highest weekly total yet.

But officials said it's not a reason for concern, insisting there is nothing indicating the virus is spreading in classrooms where mitigation efforts are in place. The state has made efforts to vaccinate more educators; Saturday was one of four days blocked off for school workers at mass vaccination sites.

Still, dozens of districts are delaying bringing students back. Boston and Worcester are among the largest districts to have obtained a state waiver pushing the deadline back.

Middle school students are expected back for districts without waivers by April 28, while guidance on whether high school students will be brought back is expected this month.