WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Governor Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that the state will have a preregistration system for COVID vaccinations starting on Friday, March 12.
Governor Baker, speaking from West Bridgewater, said that Mass. residents won't need to fight each other for vaccine appointments when they're released on Thursday mornings after this Thursday, March 11.
Instead, the new preregistration system will place residents who want a vaccine appointment in "first come, first served" order. The system will notify residents who have preregistered when there is an appointment available for them, and give the resident 24 hours to book an appointment.
Residents without internet access or the ability to use the internet can use the state's 2-1-1 vaccine hotline.
The system will only be booking appointments for the seven state-run mass vaccination sites at first. Governor Baker said more sites will be added in April. Residents will sign up at a new website, www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine.
The governor said it will probably still take several weeks for eligible residents to get an appointment, given the lack of vaccine supply.
Anyone who preregisters with the state's new system will also be allowed to look for appointments elsewhere, like local boards of health and federally-supplied pharmacies.
State Rep. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) said it was "Great news and about time," that the state was rolling out a preregistration system - something DiZoglio had been campaigning for. "Next we must also ensure he is not just appointing friends of his to run the system," she said.
WBZ's Karen Regal (@Karenregal) has more:
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