President-elect Joe Biden plans to accelerate the release of available coronavirus vaccines once he takes office, a move welcomed by the Bay State’s top health official who said doses “can’t come soon enough.”
“The president-elect believes we must accelerate distribution of the vaccine while continuing to ensure the Americans who need it most get it as soon as possible,” Biden spokesman T.J. Ducklo said in a statement. “He supports releasing available doses immediately, and believes the government should stop holding back vaccine supply so we can get more shots in Americans’ arms now.”
President Trump’s administration has been holding back millions of doses to guarantee that people can get a second shot, which is required by both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to ensure maximum protection against COVID-19.
Biden’s plan would accelerate shipment of first doses and then rely on government power to provide the require second doses in a timely manner.
Biden’s pledge comes as cases are soaring across the country and in Massachusetts, which set records for single-day case counts two days in a row this week.
“We have distributed everything that has come into Massachusetts to providers,” state Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said in a press conference Friday, adding, “Vaccines can’t come soon enough into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
More than 346,600 doses of coronavirus vaccines have been shipped to Bay State providers, and more than 167,000 have been administered. Officials said Friday there’s often a lag between when shots go into arms and when they’re reported back through the state’s system. But Sudders also said there are some people who don’t want the vaccine.
The state received new guidance Friday saying that if hospitals and other entities have vaccines beyond what they need for health care workers doing COVID-facing care, they can “continue to move through Phase One categories.”
Vaccinations have already begun in long-term care facilities through a federal pharmacy partnership and will extend to assisted living residences, rest homes, continuing care retirement communities and congregate care programs next week, officials said.
First responders are scheduled to start receiving their doses en masse on Monday, though a handful of departments have already started vaccinations.
Asked whether the state would consider using the National Guard to administer vaccines, Sudders said deploying medically trained service members to skilled nursing facilities remains the priority.
“We think that is a very important use of the National Guard, which is to support your skilled nursing facilities as they have clusters and staff (that) are out as a result,” Sudders said.
Herald wire services contributed to this report.
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Massachusetts HHS secretary says more coronavirus vaccines ‘can’t come soon enough’ - Boston Herald
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