Around New England

Massachusetts Wastes Nearly 1,300 COVID-19 Vaccines

February 10, 2021

Do coronavirus vaccines sometimes go to waste in Massachusetts? Yes, they do, CBS Boston reports.

As of Friday, February 5, 1,272 vaccines had been wasted:  1,096 from Moderna and 176 from Pfizer, the state told the station. That means the state discarded the vaccine before it received use.

“It’s upsetting that any vaccines would go to waste,” said Tim Ford, professor of public health at UMass Lowell, told CBS Boston. “The government put nothing in place to help states actually administer the vaccine to put shots in people’s arms. Had they provided information on the extra vaccines and the fact that another person could have been vaccinated from that vial, that would have made a difference. It is shocking and it’s a real shame.”