Massachusetts residents competing for coronavirus vaccine for less than the number of new recruits at state mass vaccination sites Thursday morning were showing signs of progress as administration of newly approved Johnson and Johnson vaccines began locally.
No new appointments were available at several mass vaccination sites on Thursday, according to a message posted on the state’s Twitter account around 7 a.m. Thursday. New appointments at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium and Reggie Lewis Center were not available due to limited federal vaccine supplies and “a large number of previously scheduled second-dose appointments.”
The message advises eligible residents to seek appointment at other mass vaccination sites, including the Doubletree Hotel in Denver, the Natika Mall in Natika, the former Circuit City in Dartmouth, and the Eastfield Mall in Springfield.
Due to limited federal supplies and a large number of previously scheduled second dose appointments, first dose appointments are no longer available for Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium or Reggie Lewis Center. Please check other locations for availability.
– mas.gov (@ mesgov) March 4, 2021
The state COVID-19 Response Command Center later clarified to the Globe that no new appointments were made available at Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park or Reggie Lewis Center on Thursday.
New appointments for the state’s mass vaccination centers are issued every Thursday, but only about 12,000 were allocated on Thursday morning. Which is below 50,000 last week.
Also on Thursday, some of the first doses of the newly approved Johnson and Johnson vaccine were given by Tufts Medical Center. Mary Chin, chief executive officer of the Asian American Civic Association, was shot in a Boston hospital Thursday morning. Last week, the FDA issued a U.S. injunction for emergency use. The vaccine, authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, has the potential to accelerate vaccination efforts dramatically as it requires only a single dose and is easy to ship and store.
Although appointments were made quickly on Thursday, the pool of eligible residents is set to expand dramatically next week, Governor Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that K-12 teachers, school staff and child care workers will be eligible to book appointments on March 11. Join people who are 65 or older and have two or more suitable health conditions in the fitness pool.
Christina Prignano can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter cprignano.
