BOSTON — Ten months later and we are now beginning to see a potential timeline for a vaccine to go out in the global pandemic. So much has to happen before it goes out, but we are now hearing the first vaccine could be administered by the middle of the month.
In the governor’s first post-holiday briefing, Boston 25 News asked if he is learning more about how the distribution will work in Massachusetts.
“The feds told us yesterday on the call I was on that we should expect to see vaccine distributed sometime in mid-December,” Gov. Charlie Baker said.
Massachusetts has already submitted a vaccine distribution proposal to the federal government. They are now waiting for more feedback next week as they determine exactly who will get it first.
“The focus is going to be on the people we are the most worried about, either because of what they do for work or because of their age or because of their physical condition,” Gov. Baker said.
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The earliest vaccines require two doses and the governor is being told they would likely be administered about three-to-four weeks apart.
“It’s going to take a while before people would literally start finishing the vaccine process itself and start to generate the antibodies,” he said.
With the surging numbers still in the health data, the governor worked to spread the word about their concern about COVID-19 clusters they are seeing at houses of worship. The governor is urging people to stick to the protocols as more people go to holiday services and celebrations.
“We have had instances and circumstances in which people haven’t’ followed the rules or guidance as part of their regular services, which has led to certain clusters,” Baker said.
The governor did take a moment to make it clear that there is no plan right now for any last-minute shutdowns as we get closer to the holiday. If something like that was needed, it would come with lots of notice.
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