Baker-Polito Administration Announces Vaccine Update

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced updates on the Commonwealth’s distribution efforts of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as well as new guidance from the Department of Public Health (DPH) to help residents celebrate the holiday safely.

On Monday, the first doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the Commonwealth. Four hospitals received 5,850 first doses on Monday. On Tuesday, 53,625 more doses began to arrive to 17 more hospitals statewide.

Pending the approval of Moderna’s emergency-use authorization, the Commonwealth, based on federal guidance, has been told to anticipate 180,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 120,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. In all, the administration expects the Commonwealth to receive 300,000 doses by the end of December.

DPH places vaccine orders on behalf of the providers. From there, the vaccine is shipped to the hospital or facility directly from the manufacturer on behalf of the federal government.

When vaccination begins, hospitals report data to DPH, and DPH and the Command Center will launch a public dashboard to keep track of immunizations administered next week.

Additionally, CVS and Walgreens will begin vaccinating in nursing homes the week of Dec. 28, using doses from the state’s Pfizer allocation. Between 40,000 and 60,000 doses will be shipped to CVS and Walgreens for Massachusetts skilled-nursing facilities.