Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared on Friday that the coronavirus pandemic was, at least in Massachusetts, “pretty much over,” given the state’s low case rates and high levels of vaccination. After more than a year of sickness, death and stress for many people, has the state turned the corner enough to go back to normal? Jim Braude was joined by Dr. Cassandra Pierre, acting hospital epidemiologist at Boston Medical Center, and Dr. Jeremy Faust, emergency physician at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, to discuss.
The doctors discussed data shared on Twitter by Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, about disparities in vaccination rates in Massachusetts.
Springfield:
— Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) May 29, 2021
12% of kids aged 12-15 with at least 1 shot
55% of people over 20
64% of people over 30
Newton:
64% of kids aged 12-15
93% of people over 20
99% of people over 30
That's not a typo. 99% of people over 30!!
3/6
"This is certainly not over,” Pierre said. “We know there are a significant number of unvaccinated people in under-vaccinated communities in which we could see small or larger spikes when the weather changes. We also have not yet vaccinated children”
WATCH: Overcoming vaccination disparities