MA Coronavirus Vaccine Latest: Company Apologizes For Site Crash

The Massachusetts coronavirus vaccine rollout has been a bumpy one, plagued by scattered information and a clunky registration process. Patch is summarizing the latest updates, most recent vaccination statistics, a map of current vaccination sites and who is eligible to receive the shot below.

Email patchcovidstories@gmail.com with your COVID-19 vaccination stories.

The following was last updated Friday at 8 a.m.:

'Full responsibility'

The company behind the state's vaccination appointment website apologized Thursday night for the site's crash earlier in the day which left tens of thousands unable to schedule appointments.

The failure came on the first day people over 65 and those with two or more qualifying medical conditions were eligible for vaccinations.

"As the state's biggest online appointment vendor, we deeply regret what happened [Thursday] in Massachusetts and are committed to ensuring this does not happen again," PrepMod said in a statement.

"We accept full responsibility for the problem today," it continued.

Not a great start

Patience is wearing thin after the state's latest pothole in a coronavirus vaccination rollout full of them.

The state appointment website buckled under the pressure of thousands of newly eligible people trying to book a slot, crashing Thursday morning and leaving already frustrated residents — many of them older — searching for answers.

Vaxfinder.mass.gov has since been partially restored, but only after hours of confusion for those trying to book some 70,000 appointments next week.

"My hair's on fire about the whole thing," Gov. Charlie Baker told GBH's Boston Public Radio. "I can't even begin to tell you how pissed off I am."

He's got company.

State lawmakers want to know how this happened the same morning vaccine eligibility expanded to nearly 1 million more residents. It was the first opportunity for people over 65 and those with two or more qualifying medical conditions to book appointments.

"I am deeply disappointed that today so many Massachusetts residents are feeling frustration and anger on a day when we should be experiencing hope," Senate President Karen Spilka said in a statement. "I hear it and I feel it too."

Spilka said an oversight hearing will be livestreamed Feb. 25.

"We expect answers from those responsible for this failure," she said.

But Baker said it could be a month until people in the newly eligible groups have an appointment for their first dose.

50K appointments coming soon

Appointments at mass vaccination sites in Springfield, Danvers, Natick and Dartmouth have been booked for next week. Some 50,000 appointments, mostly at Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park, are being held until everyone has access to the state vaccination website.

Calling for reinforcements

Gov. Charlie Baker may send the National Guard to retrieve coronavirus vaccines from Kentucky and Tennessee as winter weather threatens the federal supply chain.

Baker said Massachusetts could see a "significant delay" in getting vaccine doses if the National Guard doesn't get them from the southern states where the vaccine is being manufactured.

"We may have some real issues with supply delivery this week," Baker told the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Thursday morning. "We were told it may be a few days late, but we were told last night we may see a significant delay in our next shipments."

Coronavirus vaccine numbers as of Feb. 18

Shipped: 1,527,150 Administered: 1,267,262 Percentage: 83

Changes coming?

Baker said the state is looking at a centralized registration mechanism and that he may have more information in the coming weeks before eligibility is expanded to larger population groups.

Locally focused clinics coming to end

Officials announced this week that effective March 1, the state will be cutting off the vaccine supply for most local boards of health holding vaccination clinics only for residents of that city or town. The aim, officials explained, is to redirect resources to and increase capacity at larger vaccination sites.

Instead, people will have to get vaccinated at mass vaccination sites, regional collaboratives, pharmacy chains or Veterans Affairs.

You can see a map of all the vaccination sites below. Click on one to be linked to where you can start the appointment process.

People eligible for vaccinations as of Feb. 19

• Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
• Long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities
• First responders
• Congregate care settings
• Home-based health care workers
• Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care
• Individuals age 75+
• Individuals age 65+, individuals with two or more certain medical conditions, and/or residents and staff of low income and affordable senior housing.

Eligible medical conditions

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity and severe obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)