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Some good news - starting tomorrow, Thursday, February 18, 2021, individuals in Phase Two, Group B will be eligible for COVID vaccination. Group B includesMassachusetts residents falling into at least one of these categories: (1) age 65 and over; (2) residents and staff of low-income housing or affordable senior housing; and (3) those with at least two higher risk medical conditionswill be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. People in Phase Two, Group A and Phase One remain eligible for the vaccine.
If you're eligible, you can get a COVID vaccine regardless of your ability to pay, insurance coverage, or immigration status.
To schedule a vaccine appointment, go to vaxfinder.mass.gov or mass.gov/CovidVaccineMapand search for open appointments using your zip code or click through the various vaccination sites closest to you. Individuals who are unable to schedule an appointment online can call the Baker Administration's scheduling center at 2-1-1 or (877) 211-6277 for assistance. (The call center doesn't have any access to additional appointments, so if you can use the website but are not finding any appointments, don't bother calling. The call center is strictly for people having difficulty with the online sign-up process.) Appointments for Group B should be available online starting at 8:00 AM tomorrow.
Please note, appointments are limited due to limited vaccine supply. (Massachusetts currently receives roughly 100,000 first doses per week.) If you have no luck getting an appointment tomorrow, check back periodically to see if appointments have opened up. More information about COVID-19 vaccinations is available on my website at www.beccarauschma.com/covidvaccine.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health considers these 13 conditions as higher risk of severe illness from COVID, warranting vaccine eligibility:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Down Syndrome
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Moderate to severe asthma
I am glad that we are moving to the next group and more people will be eligible to get the vaccine. I also remain seriously concerned about the overall COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Massachusetts, particularly the perpetual lack of detail in implementation protocols andthe graveinequities in access and outreach.I continue to push ourCOVID-19 Vaccine Equity Actand urge the Governor to course-correct this rollout. In addition, the Legislature will hold our first COVID vaccine oversight hearing next week, on Thursday, February 25.
Questions and comments about the COVID vaccine distribution plan and implementation can be emailed directly to the Baker administration at COVID-19-Vaccine-Plan-MA@mass.gov. I welcome constituents to copy me on those emails as well.
As always, if you or any of your loved ones in my district have fallen on hard times during this pandemic, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office via phone (617-722-1555) or email (becca.rausch@masenate.gov). We are here to help. You can also find robust resources to help you navigate through COVID-19 on my website.
Yours in service,
Senator Becca Rausch
Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 218 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
Senator Rausch · State House, Room 218 · 24 Beacon Street · Boston, MA 02133-1099 · USA
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