Massachusetts will expand its distribution of the COVID vaccine to include more injections at CVS Health and Walgreens pharmacies across the state, Governor Charlie Baker announced on Tuesday. Officials have also announced that Fenway Park will become the state’s second mass vaccination site, joining Gillette Stadium.
The expansion is part of the COVID-19 CDC Pharmacy Partnership program – an effort to increase the number of vaccines available to eligible residents in more than a dozen locations across the state. Fifteen CVS and Walgreens stores in Massachusetts will receive 10,000 doses of the vaccine this week, officials said.
Those 15 locations are in Greenfield, Fall River, Salem, South Yarmouth, Pittsfield, Lee, Holden, Gardner, Hyannis, Mashpee, Somerset, Fairhaven, Haverhill, Saugus and Danvers, officials said. Only residents and workers in Phase 1 of the state’s implementation plan can receive the vaccine.
Phase 1 includes “clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals providing direct, COVID-oriented care; long-term care facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities; first to respond; and bring together service environments, including corrections and shelters. “
Nearly 40 vaccination sites will be added next week through these pharmacies and additional partners, including Wegmans, Big Y, Price Chopper, Stop & Shop and Hannaford, officials said.
Last week, Baker announced that Gillette Stadium in Foxborough will serve as the state’s first large-scale vaccination facility. The Fenway website will open on February 1 to administer 500 vaccines a day, officials said.
Like Gillette, Fenway would likely start as a vaccination center for first responders and then for the general public in the coming months.
Related Content: