Tracking vaccinations in Massachusetts

Data shows that more than 2 million doses of the vaccine have been shipped to Massachusetts. In theory, that’s enough to fully vaccinate at least 1 million people (2 doses per person).

Massachusetts distributed the first vaccine doses in mid-December. More than 1.3 million people in Massachusetts (about 23 percent of the state’s 5.7 million residents who are 16 and older and eligible to be vaccinated) have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine. So far only 578,000 are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

The first phase of the state’s rollout prioritized health care workers and first responders. Phase 2 added seniors to the line. Seniors are among the most vulnerable to the virus, with more than 80 percent of COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. being people 65 and older, according to the CDC. The Commonwealth’s data shows that 126,000 residents 75 or older and 57,000 residents between 65 and 74 have already been vaccinated so far.

As Phase 2 expands to include teachers, people 65 and older, and people with two or more comorbidities the state is struggling to meet demand. When online registration for seniors 75 and older opened up weeks before, many hopefuls had also complained of numerous pain points and scarce availability. The second group to enter the phase, which included people 65 and older, experienced similar issues. On the first day of vaccinations for the newly eligible group, the state’s registration site crashed. Before the site was fully back up and running many slots had already been booked through the next week.

Not all groups are lining up to be vaccinated. Black and Latino residents are among the most reluctant. According to a Boston Globe and Suffolk University survey, only 11 percent of Black residents and 32 percent of Latino residents said they want the vaccine as soon as possible. Phase 1 prioritized COVID-19-facing health care workers. Even though an estimated 14 percent of select health care workers in Massachusetts are Black, according to research center Boston Indicators, Black residents accounted for less than 5 percent of vaccinations during the first phase. The uptake has increased in Phase 2, in which Black residents currently account for a little more than 5 percent of full vaccinations.

Inoculation has been the slowest among Latino residents. Only 3 percent of Latinos in Massachusetts have been vaccinated. The group makes up 4 percent of total vaccinations, but 12 percent of the state population.

Polls also showed that men were less willing to get the vaccine than women. The state’s vaccination report shows there are almost twice as many women getting vaccinated than men. Men account for 35 percent of fully vaccinated residents even though they make up 48 percent of the state’s population (about 2 percent of recipients fall under “other” which includes unreported genders and non-binary genders).

The majority of people being vaccinated are women. Women account for 63 percent of vaccinations, even though women represent 51 percent of the state population.