January 28, 2021
The Honorable Charles D. Baker Office of the Governor Massachusetts State House Boston, MA 02133
Dear Governor Baker:
We write to you to express our concern regarding the current process available to the public to sign up for COVID-19 vaccines.
Our constituencies have called on us for assistance in navigating the pathway laid out by your Administration. The system in use, while made to be expedient and accessible, has created barriers for our aging population, those who have limited access to technology, and those who struggle to use it. Inadvertently, restricting the sign up process to a digital format puts our senior population at risk. In searching for the official online tool, the query also provides results not affiliated with the Commonwealth. This makes residents vulnerable to scams, and exposes them to undue online risks.
Collectively, we implore the Administration to create a user friendly 1-800 number which would allow Massachusetts residents to access the sign up process more easily. Additionally, we request that the Administration create a centralized system, under the COVID-19 Task Force, that would allow for a more accessible sign-up process for those who can utilize the online tools. Currently, residents must choose a location, and then follow one of many links to separate entities to book appointments.
We are appreciative for the steps that the Administration has taken, and are grateful for your consideration. Please contact our offices should you have questions, concerns, or wish to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
Anne M. Gobi Adam Gomez State Senator State Senator Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire Middlesex District Hampden District
Eric P. Lesser John C. Velis State Senator State Senator 1st Hampden and Hampshire District 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District
Adam G. Hinds Patrick M. O’Connor State Senator State Senator Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden District Plymouth and Norfolk District
Dianna DiZoglio Susan L. Moran State Senator State Senator First Essex District Plymouth and Barnstable District
Mark R. Pacheco Michael D. Brady State Senator State Senator 1st Plymouth and Bristol District 2nd Plymouth and Bristol
John J. Cronin Michael F. Rush State Senator State Senator Worcester and Middlesex District Norfolk and Suffolk District
Edward J. Kennedy Patricia D. Jehlen State Senator State Senator 1st Middlesex District 2nd Middlesex District
Becca Rausch Jo Comerford State Senator State Senator Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District
Walter F. Timility Nick Collins State Senator State Senator Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District 1st Suffolk District
Joan B. Lovely Sonia Chang-Díaz State Senator State Senator 2nd Essex District 2nd Suffolk District
Jamie B. Eldridge Michael J. Barrett State Senator State Senator Middlesex and Worcester District 3rd Middlesex District
Harriette L. Chander Brendan P. Crighton Senate President Emerita State Senator First Worcester District Third Essex District
John F. Keenan State Senator Norfolk and Plymouth District
David T. Vieira Steven G. Xiahros State Representative State Representative 3rd Barnstable District 5th Barnstable District
John Barrett, III Paul W. Mark State Representative State Representative 1st Berkshire District 2nd Berkshire District
James K. Hawkins Steven S. Howitt State Representative State Representative 2nd Bristol District 4th Bristol District
Patricia A. Haddad Carole Fiola State Representative State Representative 5th Bristol District 6th Bristol District
Norman J. Orrall Antonio F.D. Cabral State Representative State Representative 12th Bristol District 13th Bristol District
Adam J. Scanlon State Representative 14th Bristol District
James M. Kelcourse Andres X. Vargas State Representative State Representative 1st Essex District 3rd Essex District
Christina A. Minicucci Frank A. Moran State Representative State Representative 14th Essex District 17th Essex District
Tram T. Nguyen, Esq. State Representative 18th Essex District
Todd M. Smola Brian M. Ashe State Representative State Representative 1st Hampden District 2nd Hampden District
Patricia Duffy Jacob R. Oliveira State Representative State Representative 5th Hampden District 7th Hampden District
Lindsay N. Sabadosa Daniel R. Carey State Representative State Representative 1st Hampshire District 2nd Hampshire District
Natalia M. Blais Susannah M. Whipps State Representative State Representative 1st Franklin District 2nd Franklin District
Danielle W. Gregoire Maria Duaime Robinson State Representative State Representative 4th Middlesex District 6th Middlesex District
Jack Patrick Lewis Thomas M. Stanley State Representative State Representative 7th Middlesex District 9th Middlesex District
Carmine Lawrence Gentile Tami L. Gouveia State Representative State Representative 13th Middlesex District 14th Middlesex District
Michelle L. Ciccolo Rady Mom State Representative State Representative 15th Middlesex District 18th Middlesex District
Mike Connolly Steven C. Ownes State Representative State Representative 26th Middlesex District 29th Middlesex District
Michael S. Day Steven Ultrino State Representative State Representative 31st Middlesex District 33rd Middlesex District
Christine P. Barber Danillo A. Sena State Representative State Representative 34th Middlesex District 37th Middlesex District
Bruce J. Ayers Edward R. Philips State Representative State Representative 1st Norfolk District 8th Norfolk District
Shawn Dooley Tommy Vitolo State Representative State Representative 9th Norfolk District 15th Norfolk District
Susan Williams Gifford Josh S. Cutler State Representative State Representative 2nd Plymouth District 6th Plymouth District
Alyson M. Sullivan Kathleen R. LaNatra State Representative State Representative 7th Plymouth District 12th Plymouth District
Liza Miranda State Representative 5th Suffolk District
Jessica Ann Giannino Kevin G. Honan State Representative State Representative 16th Suffolk District 17th Suffolk District
Kimberly N. Ferguson Jonathan D. Zlotnik State Representative State Representative 1st Worcester District 2nd Worcester District
Michael P. Kushmerek Natalie M. Higgins State Representative State Representative 3rd Worcester District 4th Worcester District
Donald R. Berthiaume Brian W. Murray State Representative State Representative 5th Worcester District 10th Worcester District
Hannah Kane Meghan K. Kilkoyne State Representative State Representative 11th Worcester District 12th Worcester District
James J. O’Day David H.A. LeBoeuf State Representative State Representative 14th Worcester District 17th Worcester District
Joseph D. McKenna State Representative 18th Worcester District