State Provisional Vaccine Distribution Plan Prioritizes Healthcare Professionals, High-Risk People

In a statement, the State Department of Health and Human Services said it would continue to work with state advisory groups “to help advance efforts to prepare for the distribution of safe and effective vaccines.”

The plan does not provide a timeline.

Governor Charlie Baker’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Baker last month said It is “very important” that clinical trials of vaccines are not in a hurry after CDC director Robert Redfield wrote to the governor in August telling him to prepare a vaccine distribution center by November 1. is.

“The big problem” is “these are done right,” Baker said, and people “have the peace of mind and confidence that this is safe and effective.”

Some people interviewed on Sunday expressed a mixture of concern and optimism.

Chelli Keshavan, 32, secretary-general of the Boston Birth Education Association, a non-profit organization in the Coolridge Corner, said: “Vaccines seem to be coming out earlier than before.

“I don’t think people will come as soon as they promise,” said Chris Laurin, 26, sitting on a bench at Amory Park in Brookline. “There are logistics methods that need to be resolved.”

August 25-year-old Healthcare worker August Easton said that “it will be like 12 to 18 months” before the vaccine becomes available.

And he knows who should get it when he’s ready. “Healthcare worker,” he said, standing in front of Starbucks in Kenmore Square. “They are most likely to be exposed to the virus.”

Lori Loughlin, who works in the media, agreed that healthcare professionals should line up first. “They are most likely to be exposed,” he said.

However, Keshaban said teachers think they should be vaccinated first.

“They have revealed a failure in the way our system works,” she said, referring to the childcare crisis caused by the pandemic. “No one can work without childcare. Public schools act as childcare for those who cannot afford it.”

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Once the vaccine is approved, Massachusetts will distribute it in three phases.

In the first phase, the state encourages all healthcare professionals to enroll in a vaccination program, but the plan notes that there are not enough doses available at all healthcare and long-term care facilities. ..

Priority is given to healthcare professionals who work directly with COVID-19 patients, are in a virus-prone health condition, or are 65 years of age or older.

In the second stage, “a large number of vaccinations will be available” and the state will “begin to provide vaccines to more people”, but no numbers will be provided.

To prepare for this phase, the Public Health Service has begun expanding its distribution network to include a variety of physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers.

“This extensive network of vaccine providers enables timely distribution of doses in anticipation of a surge in demand for vaccines,” the document states.

According to the draft, depending on vaccine supply and distribution capacity, the state may set up emergency dispensing sites at this stage, especially in areas where access to medical facilities is restricted.

In the third stage, everyone has enough vaccines to be vaccinated, and the state focuses on “guaranteeing fair vaccination for the entire population.”

Globe Correspondent Breanne Kovatch contributed to this report.

Jeremy C. Fox can be reached at [email protected].. Follow him on Twitter @jeremycfox..