Top COVID-19 news

^{Amid the pandemic, news is fast-moving – and sometimes confusing. Coverage is here to help. Our new series provides a clear, fact-based digest of the top news for health consumers.}

Expanding access to seniors

To speed vaccine distribution to seniors, who have suffered the highest death tolls during the pandemic, Massachusetts will make the vaccine available to anyone age 65 or older starting in mid February – months earlier than originally planned. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden released a seven-point plan to dramatically increase vaccinations across the country, including employing the National Guard and FEMA to help, and investing $25 billion in vaccine manufacturing and distribution.

How has the vaccination effort been going so far? According to the CDC, more than 41 million doses have been distributed in the United States, but only about half have been administered. Massachusetts is underperforming most states, with about 420,000 COVID vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna administered since vaccinations began Dec. 15 – fewer than half the doses received by the state, leaving about 94% of the state unvaccinated.

Where can you get vaccinated?

Massachusetts is aggressively expanding vaccination sites, aiming for 165 by mid-February, including at CVS and Walgreen pharmacies and mass vaccination sites at Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park, the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury, the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Danvers and Springfield’s Eastfield Mall. However, Gov. Charlie Baker said, “We can only move as fast as the federal government ships vaccines to the Commonwealth.”

How can you make an appointment? Massachusetts has created a new vaccine eligibility website, including an interactive map with vaccination sites. Residents aged 75 and older, and those included in Phase 1, will be able to make appointments online starting Jan. 27 through sites listed on the state’s map.

Restrictions eased

Massachusetts Gov. Baker has eased or ended a number of the state’s restrictions. The 10 p.m.- 5 a.m. stay at home advisory put in place after the second surge has been rescinded. Restaurants, retail, casinos, liquor stores and others can stay open after 9:30 p.m. However, indoor capacity limits will remain capped at 25% until at least Feb. 8.

Why? Hospitalizations and the average daily positive rate for COVID-19 infections are both trending down in Massachusetts, and the number of communities in the high-risk category is falling too. However, as a new, highly infectious variant of the virus spreads, health officials are still urging the public to wear masks and follow physical distancing and other public health measures.

Vaccine news

Merck, one of the world’s most prominent vaccine makers, has stopped development of its two COVID-19 vaccine candidates, citing weak clinical trial results compared with the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines that have already been FDA-authorized. The company will continue to work on treatments for COVID patients.

What other vaccines are in development? According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 50 vaccine candidates in clinical trials. Among them are a Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, with trial results expected next week, and an AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine that is in use in the U.K. and India and undergoing U.S. trials. Both are expected to seek FDA authorization this winter.