BOSTON, MA – One day before Governor Charlie Baker and members of his administration will appear before a joint oversight hearing on COVID-19 vaccination distribution, the Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition is calling for answers to key questions about equity. The coalition of Black, Latinx and immigrant leaders has been encouraged by new investments in the state’s Vaccine Equity Initiative, but emphasizes that more information is needed about how the administration will work with community organizations to close persistent racial gaps in the state’s vaccine rollout.

“Governor Baker recently demonstrated that he is listening to the concerns of our coalition of Black, Latinx and immigrant leaders when he announced an additional $27.4 million in federal funding for his administration’s Vaccine Equity Initiative,” said Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition Co-Chairs Dr. Atyia Martin of the Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition, Eva Millona of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, and Carlene Pavlos of the Massachusetts Public Health Association. “While this is great progress, there are still questions that need to be answered to ensure that the necessary doses and resources are making their way to the communities that have been most impacted by COVID-19 and the trusted organizations that serve those communities. We look forward to hearing more from Governor Baker and members of his administration at tomorrow’s oversight hearing about the progress they have made and the plans they have in place to meet the Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition’s five demands.”

Read the full release.