4 Days Reserved For Teachers Only At Massachusetts Mass Vaccination Sites
BOSTON (CBS) – Massachusetts is designating four days at its mass COVID vaccination sites for educators only in the upcoming weeks.
Childcare workers and K-12 teachers and school staff become eligible to sign up for their COVID vaccine at all sites in the state on Thursday. Teachers can already sign up for CVS appointments through the federal pharmacy program.
Starting Friday, the state is launching a new preregistration form that will allow teachers and other eligible residents to sign up for appointments as they become available.
The following days will have appointments designated for educators only at the state's mass vaccination sites:
- Saturday, March 27
- Saturday, April 3
- Saturday, April 10
- Sunday, April 11
Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said "about 25,000 appointments would be available exclusively for educators at the seven mass vax sites."
"All other vaccine providers, including regional collaboratives, are encouraged, but not required, to restrict their appointments to K through 12 educators, childcare workers, and K through 12 school staff on these days," Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said at a news conference Wednesday announcing the dates.
Providers can also designate alternative dates for educators, though clinics cannot be restricted to people who live or work in a particular area. Those must be submitted to the state by March 16.
The state warned that due to limited vaccine supplies, educators may not receive their shots until the middle of April or later.
"Part of the reason we picked dates that are later in the month of March and early April is, once again, we are going to hope that the enthusiastic projections of some of the folks in DC actually come true - that we are going to get, finally, some of the J&J 'tsunami' of vaccines that they committed to," Gov. Charlie Baker said at the news conference.
Massachusetts currently has mass vaccine sites at Eastfield Mall in Springfield, Natick Mall, Gillette Stadium, Doubletree Hotel in Danvers, Reggie Lewis Center, the former Circuit City in Dartmouth, and Hynes Convention Center starting March 18. The Fenway Park site is open through March 27 until it is phased out.
Visit Mass.Gov/CovidVaccine to find out when you're eligible and to book an appointment or call the hotline at 211.
