State getting big boost in vaccine doses this week

BOSTON — More and more vaccine doses are coming to Massachusetts.

The state saw a huge increase in its weekly vaccine supply, getting nearly 830,000 doses this week. Of that:

• 445,000 first and second doses will go to the state-run sites.
• 385,000 federal doses will be distributed to pharmacies and community health centers.

These numbers include a big, one-time boost of Johnson & Johnson with a shipment of nearly 109,000 doses.

The increase in doses comes as President Joe Biden announced he’s moving up his deadline to states for making all adults eligible for the vaccine.

His new target date is April 19, bumped up nearly two weeks from his initial May 1 deadline.

Biden said so far more than 150 million people have been vaccinated in his first 75 days in office.

In Massachusetts, all residents 16 years and older are eligible to book their appointment on April 19. Governor Charlie Baker said Tuesday he doesn’t plan to move up his timeline.

He wants this newest eligibility group to have two weeks to schedule and receive their shot.

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