Lawmakers are urging Charlie Baker to withdraw the suitability of the new companion vaccine

More than 20 state representatives are calling on Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to revoke a new policy that will allow younger companions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in addition to residents 75 and older, amid concerns about equality and safety.

“The strategy allows healthy, younger residents to get vaccinated before seniors, essential workers and others most at risk of death / illness,” said state representative Tami Gouveia, an Acton Democrat and former health worker, who led a letter Thursday urged Baker to stop the ‘guidance system’.

The new authorization, which went into effect Thursday, allows individuals of any age who accompany a resident over 75 with an appointment at one of the state’s massive vaccination centers to schedule their own appointment around the same time to have a Vaccine. It was announced Wednesday, nearly two weeks after the state began allowing all residents 75 and older to sign up for appointments.

Baker has argued that allowing younger individuals accompanying members of the vulnerable group to receive a vaccine will allow the state to more rapidly expand eligibility to other priority groups in phase 2 of the rollout, such as people over 65, essential workers, and people with underlying health conditions. At a press conference Wednesday, he rejected the idea that the policy would mean those groups would have to wait longer.

“I think the exact opposite,” he told reporters after announcing the new policy. “I think you’re more likely to get a lot more people from the 75-year-old community to come and get vaccinated because they’re willing to ask someone to help them come with them. And that makes it easier to move on to the next round. “

However, lawmakers say the accompanying system “does not address the logistical, financial, and other barriers many seniors experience – especially seniors of color – low-income people and those unable to travel long distances due to illness or disease. brittleness. “

“The vaccination plan and the latest escort vaccination strategy will benefit families with a reliable car, those who can take time off from work and those who have no other work, family or health obligations,” the letter said. In other words, the community system is likely to benefit residents who are white and wealthy. This only exacerbates our state’s health inequalities and the burden of COVID-19 on our Black and Brown communities. “

As the state continues dealing with a limited supply of vaccine doses, lawmakers noted it was “possible” that half of the 50,000 new appointments made available Thursday at the state’s massive vaccination sites would go to healthy adults, including grandchildren in the least vulnerable 18 to 30-year-old age bracket .

They also raised the possibility that a single senior could get multiple family members early access to the vaccine, by “ bringing one companion for their first dose and another companion for their second dose. ”

Lawmakers also argued that the strategy could be ‘dangerous’ for seniors, noting how strangers on Craigslist, Facebook and other websites immediately started posting offers to offer rides this week – some with offers to pay money – to seniors so they could get the vaccine too.

“We’ve already seen our seniors targeted for scams related to the COVID-19 vaccine and treatment,” the letter said. “This could provide additional opportunities for ill-intentioned individuals to hunt down seniors who are desperate for the vaccine and do not have the transport to do it themselves, or who are desperate for additional financial support and who have a will accept compensation for bringing a complete vaccine. alien together as their companion. “

To address the “ fundamental factors ” that contribute to some seniors yet to receive the vaccine, the group said the state should release resources and doses to increase vaccine doses through local health departments, which have built experience and relationships in their respective communities.

“They’ve been begging for it for weeks,” the letter said.

They also argued that Baker should use the “capacity of local housing authorities, senior centers, community centers, community hospitals, health centers and other local organizations to deliver vaccines,” although government officials have said the mass vaccination sites are a more efficient model. .

“We share your promise to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible,” the letter said Thursday. “But we encourage you to balance the strong desire to improve our per capita vaccination coverage with a firm commitment to vaccinating those who are most vulnerable and who have been historically marginalized.”