Massachusetts' COVID-19 vaccination phases

People age 16 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can get vaccinated.

The Massachusetts state attestation form has been removed. Your vaccination locations may ask you to sign an attestation or a consent form. 

Learn more about the groups in each phase of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution timeline.

Steps to get your vaccination

Step 1: Preregister for a mass vaccination or regional collaborative location, or find a location and schedule your appointment

Note: An attestation form is no longer required.

There are different ways to find a vaccine appointment:

• Preregister at VaccineSignUp.mass.gov to be notified when it's your turn to schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination or regional collaborative location
• Use VaxFinder.mass.gov to search for appointments at pharmacies, health care providers, and other community locations

Massachusetts’ preregistration system makes it easier to request and schedule an appointment. People can preregister for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at mass vaccination locations and certain regional collaborative locations only. More locations will continue to be added.

Once you sign up for preregistration, you’ll receive weekly status updates. You can opt out at any time if you find an appointment elsewhere. Once an appointment is available, you’ll be contacted with the opportunity to book the appointment and have 24 hours to accept it.

Massachusetts receives a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses from the federal government each week. Due to high demand and very limited supply, it may take several weeks to schedule an appointment or to be notified that an appointment is available.

Preregister for a vaccine appointment  Use VaxFinder to book at other locations  Learn more about preregistration 

Step 2: Prepare for your appointment

Phased vaccine distribution plan

Massachusetts’ COVID-19 vaccination plan was guided by the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, a diverse group launched in October consisting of medical professionals, public health experts, elected officials, community leaders, and infectious disease specialists. The plan consists of 3 phases, which reflect several priorities: protecting our most vulnerable, maintaining health care system capacity, and addressing inequities in health care access and COVID-19 burden.

Phase 1 of the plan began in December, and prioritized health care workers, first responders, and vulnerable populations like those in congregate care settings and residents and staff of long-term care facilities.

Massachusetts moved to Phase 2 in February, and the plan continued to focus on vaccinating the oldest and most vulnerable, supporting the Commonwealth’s nation-leading success in vaccinating these populations. Phase 2 also included workers in certain categories and people with certain medical conditions.

As of April 19, Massachusetts has entered Phase 3 of the vaccine distribution plan. Everyone over the age of 16 is eligible for the vaccine (vaccines are not yet approved by the federal government for people under the age of 16). 

This page provides information about the previous phases of the distribution plan. You can also use the links below to find and schedule a vaccine appointment.

Phase 1

(December 2020 – January 2021)

Listed in order of priority:
Began December 15, 2020	Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
Began December 28, 2020	Long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities
Began January 11, 2021	First responders
Began January 18, 2021	Congregate care settings
Began January 21, 2021	Home-based health care workers
	Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care

Phase 2

(February – April 2021)

Listed in order of priority:
Began February 1, 2021	People who are 75 or older
Began February 18, 2021	People who are 65 or older
	People with 2 or more certain medical conditions
	People who live or work in low income and affordable senior housing
Began March 11, 2021	K-12 educators, K-12 school staff, and child care workers
Began March 22, 2021	People who are 60 or older
Began March 22, 2021	Workers in certain categories
Began April 5, 2021	People who are 55 or older
	People with 1 or more certain medical conditions

Phase 3

(April 2021)

Listed in order of priority
Begins April 19, 2021	People age 16 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can get vaccinated *Information specific to people age 18 and under