Massachusetts Hospitals To Distribute Vaccines Again

Virus Outbreak Massachusetts — FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2020, file photo, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker speaks after touring the DCU Center as it gears up to be used as a COVID-19 field hospital for the second time in Worcester, Mass. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled Thursday, Dec. 10, that Baker did not overstep his authority when he issued sweeping orders to close businesses to control the spread of the coronavirus. (Nancy Lane/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool, File)

Craig LeMoult is a reporter for GBH News. Feedback? Questions? Story ideas? Reach out to Craig at craig_lemoult@wgbh.org.

February 24, 2021

State officials are reversing course and will once again allow hospitals to serve as distribution sites for COVID-19 vaccines.

Hospitals were told earlier this month to stop making appointments for first doses, as those shots were being steered to mass vaccination sites. But Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday that hospitals will again be part of the mix as the federal government makes more doses available.

"We now know we're going to get a little more than we got before," Baker said. "And I think as time goes by, if we get any kind of significant increase in doses from the feds, you'll see providers do a lot more vaccinating."

Baker said hospitals operate differently than the mass vaccination sites, which require people to proactively make appointments to get a vaccine.

"A lot of the provider community does outbound work to their patient populations," he said. "They basically call them and tell them, 'You can come in and get an appointment and get a vaccination. You're eligible. We would like to do that for you.'"

The change was greeted positively by hospitals in the state.

“Massachusetts hospitals are in prime position to help steer a vaccine rollout that is safe, equitable and efficient," Steve Walsh, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, said in a statement. "Our hospitals will continue to vaccinate as many patients as possible under the guidance provided by the state, with special focus on residents of hard-hit communities. We look forward to our continued partnership with the state as supply improves and our providers’ role in vaccination distribution grows.”

Mass General Brigham "is partnering with the state on delivering vaccine to our eligible patients with a sharp focus on ensuring equity and access for those hardest hit communities," spokesman Rich Copp said in a statement. "Working closely with the Commonwealth, we plan to begin administering vaccine to additional patients at nine locations in Massachusetts, including sites in Chelsea, Jamaica Plain, Lynn, Somerville and Revere beginning next week."

This is a developing story.