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As Massachusetts takes an important vaccination milestone this weekend, it is soon taking another step to further accelerate the statewide inoculation process.
Starting Monday, Natick Mall will open as the state’s new mass vaccination site, joining four others already operational for residents eligible to receive their vaccines.
Natick’s site, served by LabCorp, plans to start administering around 500 doses of the vaccine per day. Ultimately, officials hope to administer around 3,000 doses per day.
The site will begin administering 500 doses per day, with the goal of increasing to 3,000 doses per day.
Natick Mall joins Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park, DoubleTree in Danvers and Eastfield Mall in Springfield as mass vaccination sites so far open in the state. The former Circuit City of Dartmouth is scheduled to open on February 24.
People say a fifth mass vaccination site is a step in the right direction, but they say there is still not enough.
“I think we need more vaccination sites near the Cape Cod area because there are a lot of older people there who need vaccinations and the rest of the age range going around. long distances to get vaccinated, ”Benjamin Baker, of Raynham, mentioned.
“I think this is a great idea, especially because there are so many people who haven’t had it yet and with all this virus going around you better have more sites,” said Tammi Stevens. , also from Raynham.
The federal government attributed the delays to winter weather conditions and staff shortages. In Framingham, Saturday’s coronavirus clinic was postponed for two weeks, before the state announced that more than 135,000 doses had arrived three days earlier than expected.
Mass vaccination sites currently make up about half of available appointments, according to the state’s Vaccine Research website.
The state reached a critical milestone on Saturday, announcing that more than one million people have now received the first dose of the vaccine and more than 370,000 have already received their second dose.
In total, nearly 1.4 million doses of the vaccine administered in Bay State.
The good news comes after a frustrating week of setbacks in the state’s vaccination process, including delayed shipments of vaccine doses due to inclement weather.
More than a hundred thousand doses ended up arriving on Friday, three days earlier than expected, meaning appointments did not need to be canceled, according to Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration.
“The Administration appreciates the efforts to get this critical shipment here and does not anticipate further delays from the federal government for vaccine shipments at this time,” Command Center spokesperson Kate said Friday. Reilly.
State and local heads held a roundtable discussion on Saturday to discuss racial disparities with the distribution of vaccines in Massachusetts. Lawmakers say underserved communities need all the resources they can get.
Baker earlier in the week had suggested sending the National Guard south to pick up the delayed vaccine shipments.
The state’s immunization registration website also collapsed Thursday shortly after it opened to people 65 and older. The dating slots for this age group are filling up quickly.
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