MA Shakes Up Coronavirus Vaccination Prioritization

MASSACHUSETTS — More than 170,000 people were moved up in line to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in a change announced Monday by state officials.

People 75 and older were placed in the top priority group in the next phase of the state's vaccination plan. The change was made in accordance with federal guidelines. They join people with at least two serious health conditions atop phase two, set to start in February.

People 75 and older were not previously listed as their own group. People 65 and older were prioritized third in phase two.

Phase two prioritization now looks like this:

1. Individuals with at least two serious health conditions and people 75 and older
2. Workers in early education, kindergarten through 12th grade, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health fields.
3. People 65 and older
4. People with a serious health condition

The vaccine is set to be available to the public in phase three, which runs from April to June.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday announced some 45,000 first responders will begin getting vaccinated Monday, Jan. 11. The vaccine will be available to police, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said 116,000 doses have been administered out of 287,000 distributed to Massachusetts health care providers.