Massachusetts hits vaccination goal with 4.1M residents fully vaccinated

Massachusetts has hit a coronavirus vaccination goal with 4.1 million out of 6.9 million residents fully vaccinated, state officials announced on Tuesday.

“Today, we have hit our administration’s goal of fully vaccinating 4.1 M residents. This is thanks to the hard work of health care workers and vaccine clinic volunteers, and to the people of MA for getting vaccinated,” Gov. Charlie Baker (R) tweeted.

Today, we have hit our administration’s goal of fully vaccinating 4.1 M residents. This is thanks to the hard work of health care workers and vaccine clinic volunteers, and to the people of MA for getting vaccinated.

Our goal remains getting everyone who wants a vaccine one. pic.twitter.com/rXKjvgikDV

— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) June 22, 2021

The announcement comes a week after the state ended its COVID-19 emergency declaration.

All the vaccinated residents of the state are eligible to enter Massachusetts’s vaccination lottery, with five adults able to win a $1 million prize.

The announcement also comes on the same day the White House acknowledged it will miss its vaccination goal of 70 percent of Americans having at least one shot by July 4.

Although most states have dropped many of their coronavirus restrictions, some are still struggling to get their residents vaccinated. 

Top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned Tuesday that coronavirus surges could occur in areas where vaccination rates are low amid the growing circulation of highly contagious variants of the virus.

“There is a danger, a real danger, that if there is a persistence of a recalcitrance to getting vaccinated that you could see localized surges,” Fauci said at the White House.

Incentives such as a vaccine lottery and gift cards to certain stores are being used to encourage hesitant Americans to get the vaccine.