By JEFF TIRRELL
(SPRINGFIELD) — Governor Charlie Baker was in Springfield this morning to give an update on the vaccine rollout here in Western Massachusetts. Baystate Health CEO Mark Keroack said that Baystate Health has notified 9,700 of their 12,000 employees about getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and have vaccinated 5,800 so far. Of those, 2,300 are the Pfizer vaccine and 3,500 are the Moderna vaccine.
Keroack added that most people are experiencing sore arms from the vaccine. About 120 have experienced flu-like symptoms and were tested for COVID-19. with 10 of those testing positive for the virus. He said that just a handful of people have experienced allergic reactions and are being treated.
As of Monday, Baystate Health has 159 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, 12 of whom are in the ICU.