NATICK, Mass. — It will be a major test for a system that crashed last week. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker told Boston 25 News that the website appointment system will not crash like it did last week.
Gov. Baker toured one of the newest mass vaccination sites at the old Sears inside Natick Mall. The location is expected to do 5,000 shots per day by April, but Gov. Baker said it may be even sooner if the third vaccine – created by Johnson & Johnson – is approved this week and the other two vaccines produce double their supply in March, as they just announced.
“This could be a really big moment if in fact what folks are saying actually plays out over the course of the next 30-45 days,” Gov. Baker said.
The governor is still dealing with last week’s vaccine appointment debacle when the site crashed on day one of 65-and-over eligibility. The state said it has added more capacity since then and a digital waiting room that will help handle more website traffic.
“If you don’t get an appointment tomorrow or over the weekend, the message I would say is: you will, you will get an appointment,” Gov. Baker said.
>>>MORE: Two hospital groups resume new first dose appointments
The governor is also getting ready to go in front of the state legislature Thursday to answer questions about the recent missteps in the vaccine rollout. When we asked what his focus would be, he said the state is in the middle of a major turning point right now and patience is a critical piece.
“It’s not going to happen as fast as everyone would like to, and I’m wildly sympathetic to that. I would like it to happen tomorrow too,” Gov. Baker said.
>>>MORE: 6th mass vaccination site opening in Massachusetts
The governor explained that, with the current federal supply of vaccine to sites like Natick and others around the state, they expect to get through the next group within a month. But if the feds amp up that supply, he said to look to see that timeline moving up.
Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts
>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here
RESOURCES:
- Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
