BOSTON — As many as two million Massachusetts residents could be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the week, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday.
Already more than 1.7 million residents have received first and second doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires just one shot.
Baker said the state is on track to cross the 2 million mark by week’s end, even with a temporary shortage of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The state has the infrastructure needed to administer several times the amount of vaccine it is being provided by the federal government, Baker said.
“Unfortunately, we’ve been told by the federal government that shipments, especially with respect to the J&J vaccine, will be much lower this week after we received a one-time increase last week,” the Republican said.
Beginning April 19, anyone in Massachusetts 16 years old and older who has not received a vaccine dose will be allowed to preregister.
That doesn’t mean an immediate vaccine appointment, however, in part because many of the vaccines being administered are second doses for those who have already received the first dose, Baker said.
The ultimate goal is to get as many vaccine doses as possible from the federal government, he said.
“At this point, the goal should be pedal to the metal everywhere,” he said.
Baker also defended the phased-in approach the state has taken with vaccines, focusing first on the most vulnerable populations.
That has translated into plunging hospitalization and death rates among older residents, who are among the most vulnerable to serious outcomes if infected with the disease caused by the coronavirus, he said.
Baker made the comments during a visit to a Worcester health center, where he also marked the 15 anniversary of the state’s landmark health care law that has expanded health care access to about 97% of the state population.
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