The Baker-Polito Administration’s latest management failure has been the poor implementation of COVID vaccinations. Massachusetts is lagging behind every other northeast state with only 5.5% of its population having received a first vaccination shot by January 24. Connecticut is at 8%, while Alaska and West Virginia are at about twice the MA rate. MA ranks 29th in the country. Furthermore, only 51% of the vaccine doses delivered to MA have been injected into people’s arms as-of January 24. Keep in mind that vaccine doses can’t be stored indefinitely. (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/23/metro/massachusetts-lagging-most-other-states-covid-19-vaccination-rollout/)
The administration has not implemented a centralized process for signing up to get vaccinated. New Mexico launched such a website in December as have other states including Oklahoma, Indiana, and New York. MA has a cumbersome, patchwork of ways to sign up for a vaccination and frequently new appointment slots open up at midnight and get snapped up on-line very quickly. This is not exactly user-friendly, especially for seniors with limited on-line capabilities. Shifting priorities for who is eligible to get vaccinated have led to further confusion and lots of frustration among those trying to get vaccinated. (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/27/opinion/baker-must-make-adjustments-states-vaccination-plan/)