100,000 Doses Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Still Expected In Massachusetts Next Week
BOSTON (CBS) - Governor Charlie Baker was breathing a sigh of relief at a news conference Thursday that the state's expected shipment of 100,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses next week is still on the way. "It's a shame that 15 million vaccines, in a race against variants, goes down the drain. But the good news is the control process worked and they didn't ship any of them," said Baker.
It was disheartening news from the company that human error in mixing ingredients at factories in Maryland cost so many doses. It has left some concerned it could also cost confidence.
"My fear is people won't get the vaccine and use that as an excuse to be leery when we have many options," said Daniel Lawlor outside the state's mass vaccination site at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.
"If I had to choose it would be lower on my choice scale," said Tito Moore who was just vaccinated at the Hynes.
The governor called the shipment of the one-dose vaccine "a big deal" that will make a significant dent in the state's vaccination effort. The doses will go across the state, mostly to communities and retail pharmacies for quicker and easier access. "One hundred thousand first fully vaccinated individuals is a great opportunity and a challenge to have to push it out next week," said Health and Human Services secretary Marylou Sudders.
The governor was visiting the vaccination site at La Colaborativa in Chelsea, a community hard hit by the pandemic and one that will be receiving additional state grant money to help their vaccination effort, including the need to continue building trust.
The Johnson & Johnson news was not good timing. "I think we need to educate the community that there are hiccups in the process. None of those doses were distributed and we all need to get vaccinated," said Gladys Vega, La Colaborative Executive Director.