Mass. Doubles Population Eligible For COVID Vaccine

Also: Boston could get up to 7 inches of snow by Friday night; lawmakers call Baker administration to testify on vaccine rollout ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( February 18, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ⛄ Snow, mainly after 4 p.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 31. There are two big stories Boston will be talking about this morning: more snow and more vaccines. Here's what you need to know: - Let's start with the most immediate concern: the weather. Boston could get [up to 7 inches of snow]( by Friday night, according to meteorologist Dave Epstein. The snow will start late this afternoon. When it comes to shoveling, this shouldn't be a back breaker for most of Massachusetts. The snow will be generally lighter and easy to move around — with the exception of southeastern Massachusetts, where temperatures are warmer, meaning they could see a mixing of sleet and rain. And in vaccine news: - Starting today at 8 a.m., people 65 and older, those with two or more specific comorbidities and staff and residents of low income senior housing will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts. But it's important to note that this group, which includes a million or more residents, may have a hard time finding an appointment. Gov. Charlie Baker said it will take some who are newly eligible at least a month to secure appointments. If you're part of this group and trying to sign up, WBUR wants to hear about your experience getting an appointment. Tell us by using the form at the bottom of [this story.]( - Another important change: Asthma was added to the list of 12 conditions (aka comorbidities) for which the CDC says there’s clear evidence of increased risk for COVID-19: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down Syndrome, heart conditions, immunocompromised state from an organ transplant, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking (current and prior) and type 2 diabetes. - Aside from technical issues and supply shortages, a few groups in Massachusetts feel like there have been issues with the vaccine rollout. Lawmakers who are part of the state's new COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management Committee plan to [launch oversight hearings]( next week on Feb. 25 to examine the Baker administration's efforts. Their main complaint about the rollout: there's been "both logistical and communications shortcomings." Civil rights and immigrant activists are also not pleased with how things have been going. A [new coalition]( was started yesterday to call attention to the racial inequities in the state's distribution process. - The White House could vote on President Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package as early as next week. In terms of what it could mean for Massachusetts, the state would receive [$4.55 billion in state aid]( under the proposed plan, and cities and towns would be eligible for an additional $3.73 billion, according to figures from U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan's office. - An update from yesterday's newsletter: Disgraced former Boston FBI agent John Connolly will [soon be freed]( from a Florida prison. He was granted compassionate release because he has cancer and reportedly has less than a year to live. He served nearly 19 years in prison for second degree murder because he leaked information to mobster James "Whitey" Bulger. P.S.– Let's stop the spread and spread the word. You can help us make sure everyone has access to reliable news and information on vaccines by sharing our weekly coronavirus newsletter with your network. [Ask three friends to sign up](mailto:?subject=Good%20info%20on%20COVID%20vaccines&body=Hi%20friend%2C%0A%0AWBUR%20has%20a%20weekly%20coronavirus%20newsletter%20and%20I%20wanted%20to%20share%20it%20with%20you.%20It's%20a%20trusted%20resource%20for%20all%20your%20local%20vaccine%20news.%20They're%20covering%20everything%20from%20vaccine%20safety%20to%20the%20latest%20distribution%20information.%20If%20you're%20interested%2C%20you%20can%20sign%20up%20here%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbur.org%2Fcoronavirus%2Femail-alerts%0A%0AHope%20you're%20doing%20well%20and%20chat%20soon!) or [share this page]( with your town or city officials and community groups. I really believe education from a trusted news source like WBUR is one important way we can keep our friends and neighbors safe, so thanks in advance for your help! — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Mass. Residents 65+ Or With 2 Comorbidities Can Get Coronavirus Vaccine Starting Thursday]( Baker said 70,000 appointments will be posted at mass vaccination sites around 8 a.m. Thursday morning with more coming online at regional sites and pharmacies seen on the state’s map. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Federal Complaint Filed Against Boston Over Lack Of Contracts With Black- And Brown-Owned Businesses]( The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), the Greater Boston Latino Network, and Amplify Latinx filed the complaint to the federal departments of justice and transportation in response to a city study that found that from 2014 to 2019, only 1.2% of its nearly $2.2 billion worth of public contacts went to Black- and Latino-owned businesses. [Read more.]( 3. [Millions In Texas Under Boil-Water Notices Because Of Winter Storm]( Without power to run water treatment plants, city and state officials across Texas are pleading with residents to conserve water and are issuing boil-water notices. [Read more.]( 4. [White House Announces Expanded COVID-19 Testing, Manufacturing And Virus Sequencing]( The plan could mean an additional 25 million tests per month, and it's intended to aid President Biden's effort to open schools for in-person learning. [Read more.]( 5. Things Every Family Should Know About Paying For College]( College tuition is the highest it's ever been — and the financial aid process is anything but clear. American journalist Ron Lieber's new book, The Price You Pay for College aims to take the black box of college financials and, "turn it lighter and lighter shades of gray." [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - By about 4 p.m. this afternoon, [NASA's latest Mars rover]( Perseverance, will be on the surface of the red planet – either ready to begin its mission exploring an ancient crater lake for signs of past life, or in pieces. It all depends on how the descent – known as "seven minutes of terror" – goes. - Conservative broadcaster Rush Limbaugh has [died]( at age 70. He had announced to listeners last year that he had stage four lung cancer. - From a poetry reading to a pop-up shop, here are [five things to do this weekend.]( - It's a good time to learn how to apologize, writes psychologist Maggie Mulqueen [in this commentary](. As our worlds have gotten smaller, there are fewer distractions to paper over grievances. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Anything For Selena | Episode 7: Selena And The Internet]( [Listen]( VACCINES [Asked & Answered: Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions]( What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass. [Read more.]( Tips From Mass. Residents Who Successfully Booked Coronavirus Vaccinations Online. [Read more.]( How People Are Jumping The COVID-19 Vaccine Line. [Read more.]( 📬 Get the latest on vaccine safety protocols, side effects, local distribution plans & more in your inbox. [Sign up for our coronavirus newsletter and alerts.]( What We're Reading - Depression, Anxiety, Loneliness Are Peaking in College Students ([The Brink]( - Who has died from Covid-19 in the US? ([Vox]( - Texplainer: Why does Texas have its own power grid? ([The Texas Tribune]( Tell Me Something Good [Remembering Selena Quintanilla: Live Taping Of 2021's Most Buzzed About Podcast]( Have you checked out WBUR's new podcast, Anything For Selena yet? It's the story of how Latina music icon Selena Quintinalla helped shape pop culture and American identity. It's getting buzz in The New York Times, Vanity Fair and Vulture says it’s got “so much to sink your teeth into.” Come find out why! Join host Maria Garcia and producers Kristin Torres and Antonia Cereijido for a live taping of the final episode of Anything For Selena. Whether you're a Selena superfan or just newly acquainted with La Reina, you wont want to miss this behind-the-scenes journey into the making of the podcast. 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