Vaccine Shipments To Mass. To Begin Tuesday

Arlington MA

11 December, 2020

2:18 PM

Description

Your Arlington Last Updated: 10 December 2020 Written by Joan Roman UPDATED, Dec. 10: The Baker administration announced Dec. 9 that the first round of Covid-19 vaccine shipments to Massachusetts is set to begin about Dec. 15. The state's first shipment of 59,475 doses of the Pfizer vaccine was ordered from the federal government Dec. 4 and will be delivered directly to 21 hospitals across eight counties, as well as to the Department of Public Health Immunization lab. Doses will then be redistributed for access to 74 hospitals across all 14 counties for front line medical workers. The next 40,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be allocated to the Federal Pharmacy Program to begin vaccinating staff and residents of skilled nursing facilities, rest homes and assisted living residences. Vaccine is being prioritized for these groups to maximize life preservation and to support the health care system. Based on information at this time, Massachusetts is expecting 300,000 first doses of the vaccine to be delivered by the end of December. The first vaccines, manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer, will require two doses administered three to four weeks apart. View the administration's vaccine website at www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine. View the administration's vaccine presentation >>Read frequently asked questions >> While all delivery dates and quantities are subject to change because of ongoing federal approval and allocation, the administration plans to receive and distribute over 2 million doses to priority population groups by the end of March.In collaboration with the Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, the administration designated groups of medical workers, first responders and residents most at risk for serious illness to receive the vaccine before the general population. The Vaccine Advisory Group is made up of leading medical, infectious disease and public health experts as well as representatives from communities of color and representatives of high-risk populations. Communities of color and at-risk populations are prioritized throughout the process to maximize life preservation and to prevent serious complications from Covid-related illnesses. Anticipated vaccination phases, timeline: Phase One (December 2020-February 2021): In order of priority Clinical and nonclinical health-care workers doing direct and Covid-facing careLong term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilitiesPolice, Fire and Emergency Medical ServicesCongregate care settings (including shelters and corrections)Home-based healthcare workersHealthcare workers doing non-COVID facing care Phase Two (February 2021-April 2021): In order of priority Individuals with 2+ comorbidities (high risk for Covid-19 complications)Early education, K-12, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health workersAdults 65+Individuals with one comorbidity Phase Three (April 2021- ): Vaccine available to general public The first shipments of the vaccine are expected to contain doses manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna. While both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are pending, FDA emergency use authorization, Massachusetts will not distribute the Covid-19 vaccine until it receives this authorization. Vaccines go through extensive testing, more than any pharmaceuticals, including extensive testing in clinical trials. The FDA, which approves the vaccine, and the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which will make its recommendation for use, must ensure any vaccine is both safe and effective for the public before approval and distribution.The infectious disease experts in the state's academic medical centers have pledged to review the EUA data and provide an independent opinion about their safety and efficacy. Covid-19 testing piloted in town Dec. 8-10 The Arlington Health Department has partnered with Armstrong Ambulance to offer a Covid-19 testing pilot program Tuesday, Dec. 8, through Thursday, Dec. 10. The cost was $90 per person. Drive-through Covid-19 testing was offered in the Ed Burns Arena parking lot between 9 a.m. and noon on those days. Testing will be available to individuals that are exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 or have been in close contact with someone with Covid-19. Registration is required. YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.