Starting Monday, Massachusetts residents 55 and older will be able to get vaccinated in addition to people who suffer from health conditions that put them at greater risk for COVID-19.
The number of people getting vaccinated in Massachusetts set a daily record over the weekend, approaching 100,000. The daily vaccination report on Saturday showed 97,690 doses were administered across the state, officials said.
So far, 1.45 million people are fully vaccinated in Massachusetts. The state is expanding eligibility for the vaccine on Monday, when those 55 and older will be able to get vaccinated in addition to people who suffer from health conditions that put them at greater risk for COVID-19.
Under guidelines set forth by the CDC, Massachusetts updated its vaccine eligibility to include residents who have Type 1 diabetes, among other medical conditions.
Here's what to know about who else becomes eligible to receive the vaccine Monday:
- All residents 55 and older are now eligible to receive shots, updated from residents aged 60 and older.
- In addition to Type 1 diabetes, those with medical conditions including cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Down syndrome, HIV, heart conditions "such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies," immunocompromised state from a solid organ transplant, obesity and severe obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking, substance abuse disorders, type 2 diabetes and moderate to severe asthma are eligible to receive vaccines.
- Everyone aged 16 and older becomes eligible two weeks from Monday, on April 19.
- Massachusetts is still expected to receive 100,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine this week.
