Hundreds line up for chance at extra Pfizer vaccine Wednesday

BOSTON — Hundreds waited in line outside a clinic on Mass Ave. in Dorchester Wednesday hoping to snag an extra dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Legacy Care Group in partnership with the Boston Public Health Department opened the clinic up to anyone, first come first serve, without an appointment.

Clinical Site Manager Megan McCarty said when they had to cancel their Johnson & Johnson vaccine appointments, the state gave them Pfizer vaccines instead.

“So we were able to mobilize and pull in more Pfizer resources to disseminate to the community, so we were able to not miss a beat and keep vaccinating people at high volume, which is the goal,” McCarty said.

>>>MORE: Baker: J&J pause not significantly slowing vaccine effort

McCarty said people who had J&J appointments could keep their appointment and get the Pfizer vaccine instead, but she said about 120 people chose not to get the Pfizer, so those doses were up for grabs.

“I mean we got close, it’s a weird feeling because the line progresses, and you feel like you’re getting closer but at the end of the day the situation in there doesn’t change,” Andy Hong said.

Hong was one of dozens of people turned away after waiting in line for about two hours. He knew there was a chance they’d run out of doses, but he said it was worth a shot.

“It’s not a matter of if it’ll happen, it’s just a matter of when,” Hong said.

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