Massachusetts’ COVID Vaccine Rollout Graded Harshly

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(TNS) — The Baker administration “lacked the intent” to ensure accountability in the state’s vaccination rollout and lacks the ability to asses the the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic based on specific demographics including primary language, occupation and disability status, says a new report card released Wednesday afternoon.

A look back at the administration’s handling of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to residents comes as federal officials approved earlier this month shots for children younger than 5 years old and as cases in Massachusetts are on a downward trend from a recent increase in early May.

The reported card, issued by the Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition, gives the Baker administration an “F” on accountability, or creating goals that were specific, measurable, achievable, ambitious, relevant, timebound and equitable. The administration “failed” to establish interim goals and benchmarks the coalition says were mandated under state law.

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition Executive Director Elizabeth Sweet said the administration “failed to follow critical laws and failed to publicize essential information” during the vaccine rollout.

“This makes it incredibly difficult to understand and address the true toll that each COVID-19 wave takes on our traditionally marginalized communities,” Sweet said during a press conference outside the State House Wednesday afternoon.

A spokesperson for the Department of Public Health , which oversees COVID-19 data reporting, did not immediately respond to a MassLive request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition points to a portion of state law approved in June 2020 that requires DPH to report demographic information for people who tested for, were found positive for, were hospitalized due to a probable or confirmed case of, or who died from a confirmed case of COVID-19.

That demographic data includes gender, race, ethnicity, primary residence, age, disability, primary language, and occupation.

The analysis of the vaccine rollout includes three other categories including how the administration addressed historical and present-day contexts, worked with community organizations, and implemented recommendations from a statewide advisory group.

And each category included two grades, one on the administration’s original intent and another on the outcome.

Overall Baker and his team of public health officials scored average grades, earning high marks on their intent to make sure community collaboration played a role in vaccine distribution and the initial strategy to dole out shots created by a COVID-19 advisory group.

Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition members gave the Baker administration a “B” on their intent to work with community organizations primarily because of the “Vaccine Equity Initiative,” a state-run grant program that seeks to boost “awareness and acceptance of the vaccine” in the 20 communities hardest hit by the virus.

State public health officials announced Wednesday an additional $7 million in funding through the initiative for organizations providing vaccine outreach and education. The grants are heading to groups in Worcester , Boston , Springfield , Lowell , Northampton , Mattapan , and Leominster , among others.

DPH Commissioner Margret Cooke said community-based organizations often know their residents the best and can provide culturally appropriate outreach and education.

“They continue to tap their knowledge and relationships to expand and support our Vaccine Equity Initiative by addressing the unique health equity needs of the populations they serve – needs that continue to be exacerbated by COVID-19,” Cooke said in a statement.

Massachusetts Public Health Association Executive Director Carlene Pavlos said the coalition took “a quick look” at the list of organizations that received funding.

“It’s very good to see that the vast majority of the money, or at least the majority of the money, is going to community-based organizations, some great organizations,” Pavlos said. “We would hope that those strong, vibrant, expert organizations are allowed to implement the programmatic work under these new contracts in the way that they best see fit rather than constrained by contracts from the state.”

But the coalition argues in the report card that the Vaccine Equity Initiative and “collaboration with and investment in community-based organizations came late to the state’s vaccine distribution plan.”

“This aid has come months late in the process, limiting accessibilities in our historically underrepresented communities,” Sweet said.

The coalition also points to a new report a legislative committee released Tuesday that looks at the state’s response to the pandemic and includes 16 recommendations like appointing a senior-level vaccine equity czar in the executive branch.

Lawmakers say the position would be responsible for planning and executing “all things related to the allocation, distribution, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, including sharing the plans and progress reports with the public,” according to the COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management Committee’s report.

The role, the report says, must make it a priority to address equity issues and disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates, especially with Black and Latinx populations.

“The person in this role must be expert not simply in vaccines and infectious disease, but must be someone with a proven track record of trust within communities of color and must be committed to developing direct lines of communication with community-based organizations,” the report reads.

Dr. Atyia Martin , executive director of nonprofit Next Leadership Development , said disasters across history show that people who struggle the most in day-to-day life are disproportionately impacted. The notion that public health officials could not have predicted the disproportionated impact of the pandemic, Martin said, is “problematic.”

“We did business as usual, which is how inequities get perpetuated, when we continue to do things the way we’ve always done them without intentionality,” Martin said. “Racial equity and social justice does not happen without intentionality.”