BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Although the next group of Massachusetts residents is preparing to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, there may be up to a one-month wait for newly-eligible people to get the shot.
At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Baker said the state has a "significant" way to go before everyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccination will be able to get one, but he said his Administration is expecting "an increased number of vaccines" from the federal government going forward.
"None of us thinks this program is moving fast enough," Baker said. "But you can't vaccinate people if you don't have the vaccine to make it available."
Beginning Thursday, Baker said an additional one-million people will become eligible to receive the vaccine in Massachusetts, but only 70,000 new vaccine appointments will initially come online.
Read More: State Expands Vaccine Eligibility to 65+, Those With 2+ Comorbidities
Further, Baker said the amount of new appointments will remain limited until the state sees significant increases in shipments of the vaccine from the federal government.
However, he said, everyone who wants an appointment will eventually be able to get one.
"For people seeking to make an appointment, remember to be patient," Baker said. "As I said, it may take at least a month for everybody who is part of this new group to get an appointment and to get their first vaccination ... We just need to make sure we work through the supply we get as quickly, safely and as effectively as we can."
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Written by Brit Smith
(Photo: Getty Images)